Niners Nation
Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald believes Purdy will command $60.1 million, a hair more than Dak Prescott
Many analysts have their idea of what San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is worth. His extension is inevitable. The shock value of the number, especially if (when?) it starts with a 6, will cause endless arguments from those who do not matter.
Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald is somebody we should listen to regarding contracts and anything salary cap-related. Fitzgerald recently appeared on Ari Meirov’s podcast, and Purdy was the topic of conversation. Fitzgerald would not be surprised to see Purdy becoming the highest-paid player in the league this offseason:
“I would imagine he’s going to look to be the highest-paid player in the NFL. So, I think they’re probably looking at $60.1 million a year just to go right over Dak Prescott.”
Fans would want Purdy to settle for less or take a team-friendly deal when 99 percent of people would take the maximum deal every day of the week if they were in Brock’s shoes.
If Purdy strives to be the highest-paid player in the NFL, how could you blame him? Few are in a position where a team would even consider giving a player that contract. Purdy has the 2023 season to fall back on as an argument. His 2024 was full of asterisks that few quarterbacks in the NFL would have overcome.
Fitzgerald continued: “Maybe he would go for a little bit less. He doesn’t have the draft stature to fall back on like some others. But, I think, given his track record over that period of time and the fact that he really saved them from a bad trade, that he gets a massive deal.”
Fred Warner was a third-rounder. George Kittle was drafted in the fifth round. Both players became the highest-paid players at their positions when they signed extensions with the 49ers. Once you perform to a certain level, draft status goes out of the window.
It’s true that early-round draft picks might have a longer leash or get more opportunities throughout their career, but Purdy is the poster child of anomalies.
There were signs that the 49ers would have to shell out big bucks for their signal-caller when Purdy took over in December 2022. How different would the conversations be around Purdy had he not sustained an injury in the NFC Championship game as a rookie?
Fitzgerald went to the extreme and lost me when he said, “I’m not sure if the head coach would be the head coach. I doubt the general manager would be the general manager” without Purdy. The conversation was about Purdy saving the Niners after the Trey Lance trade.
The pushback to those arguments is that Jimmy Garoppolo made deep postseason runs and was on the doorstep of a Super Bowl in this same offense. That’s not to say anybody can excel at quarterback in this offense, but Jimmy was relegated to a backup the second he left...
