Brock Purdy set a San Francisco 49ers single-season record in 2023, throwing for 4,280 passing yards. Many of those yards came on passes to his top target, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who amassed a team-leading and career-high 1,342 receiving yards.
Purdy and Aiyuk have developed great chemistry on the football field, and the quarterback would like to build upon that for years to come. However, that is out of his control, and Aiyuk's future is in the hands of the front office.
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Purdy trusts the process, acknowledging that the 49ers' decision-makers have done a commendable job so far in fielding a competitive team. In Purdy's two seasons with San Francisco, he has led the team to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl, coming close to hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy last season.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Purdy stated, "I love B.A., and what we've done has been pretty cool. And I've said this before: I'm just thankful that I have had the opportunity to play with him, and throw him the ball, and win games with him. It's been awesome."
Purdy is well aware of the business side of the NFL. Next year, when it comes time to negotiate his contract extension, he will face a similar situation. All he can do for now is wait to see how Aiyuk's negotiations unfold.
"And we're at the time of year where obviously you don't know," Purdy said. "As a player, it's obviously out of our control to sign guys and stuff. That's up to the front office and all that kind of stuff. But for me, I do trust John and Kyle in terms of getting guys who are going to make plays and be the right fit for our offense and everything.
"So my job as a quarterback is trusting those guys to get the right guys, and play, and execute, and win. And obviously, it's a business as well, so you have asks and negotiations and all these kinds of things."
Rumors surrounding Aiyuk's future have intensified as the 2024 NFL Draft approaches. General manager John Lynch has expressed the team's desire to keep Aiyuk in red and gold for the remainder of his career, admitting that he doesn't foresee the receiver being traded before or during Day 1 of the draft.
Lynch added, "And our wish is that he's here and a part of the Niners for the rest of his career. We're working through that."
Purdy would love to see Aiyuk get his much-deserved payday, just as the quarterback will undoubtedly receive in 2025. For now, like the rest of us, he awaits further developments.
"So at the end of the day, B.A. has been a brother to me, and I want the best for him," Purdy commented. "But we're at that time of year where negotiations happen and the business side of things kick in."