NFL legend Jerry Rice shared his thoughts on the looming contract situation for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. The team will be eligible to begin negotiations with their young signal-caller after this season, likely concluding after the next three games. The key question: how much will Purdy's camp push for after three years of being one of the league's most underpaid players?
Drafted last overall in 2022, Purdy has been playing on a rookie deal, but Rice believes the quarterback will seek to be paid market value. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott tops the league with an average annual salary of $60 million—an amount Rice feels Purdy's team will target.
"The Dallas Cowboys, if they gave Dak Prescott $60 million, Brock is going to ask for probably the same amount," Rice said Monday morning on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game. "Plus, Brock also has taken the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. Dak hasn't done that. So, it's just about the right time and being in the right position."
Rice emphasized that Purdy's development hinges on the 49ers maintaining a strong supporting cast around him—a task easier to accomplish with a quarterback on a rookie contract. That will no longer be the case.
"He can improve if you keep building around him," Rice said. "You got to give him the weapons, and these weapons, they got to produce."
The Hall of Famer also noted that surrounding Purdy with talent is crucial to ensuring the young quarterback is not pressured to carry the team by himself.
While Purdy is a part of a loaded roster this season, injuries have taken a toll on the 49ers, and his production has dipped compared to his record-setting 2023 campaign. This season, he has passed for 3,174 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while completing 65% of his throws—solid but far from his performance last season.
"He hasn't had a Brock year," Rice admitted. "... It hasn't been a Brock year. Guys, I don't like making excuses. Everybody talking about, 'Well, there are so many injuries,' and stuff like that. I don't care about that. That doesn't mean anything to me. You still find a way to win. Everybody got excuses out there. ... Man, forget that. You're a team. You find a way to win no matter what. And I'm tired of hearing all of that."
The 49ers will wrap up their 2024 regular season with three critical matchups: this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, a home game against the Detroit Lions, and the season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.