Tim Kawakami fielded questions from fans in a recent mailbag for The Athletic. One curious fan wondered what a new contract for Brock Purdy might look like and if the San Francisco 49ers quarterback might aim to become the NFL's highest-paid player.
Of course, the term "highest-paid" is subjective. It typically refers to the player with the highest average salary per year. However, long-term deals can be more complex. They often start with low salaries to save the team salary-cap space early in the contract and then increase over time.
Additionally, some later years may not be guaranteed, as teams can include exit points or restructure deals.
Although the announced contract details may not provide the whole picture, the fan's question to Kawakami is still important. What might Purdy look to earn once negotiations commence next year?
"Unless Purdy is the unanimous NFL MVP and wins the Super Bowl in February," Kawakami responded, "I think he's more likely to follow the path of another young, well-grounded QB who wasn't drafted in the first round but experienced enormous early success … and then got a new deal that pays a huge amount of money but also fits within the construct of the team's long-term payroll plans.
"That'd be the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, who wasn't Mr. Irrelevant like Purdy but was the 53rd pick in 2020, ended up as the Eagles' starter in 2021 and then led them to a Super Bowl loss the next season."
Hurts signed a five-year, $255 million extension in 2023, averaging $51 million annually. Kawakami points out that this number represents potential money, so it is somewhat misleading. The Eagles can exit the deal before its final year or replace it with a new, more salary-cap-friendly one.
"In real terms, Hurts got $179.3 million guaranteed over four years, an average of $44.8 million," Kawakami wrote. "That's the number I'd circle for Purdy and the 49ers when the negotiations start next year."
Kawakami notes that Purdy is as valuable to the 49ers as Hurts is to the Eagles. While both benefit from talented supporting casts, it's challenging to envision either team thriving without them.
"They'll have to pay what it takes to sign him next year, but I also think there is a reasonable number out there for a winning QB who fits the system perfectly, and I think the Eagles and Hurts have signaled what it is," Kawakami concluded.