Fans are eager to see the San Francisco 49ers sign their young franchise quarterback, Brock Purdy, to a contract extension early to avoid any offseason drama. In recent years, the team has faced challenges in quickly finalizing deals with its big-name stars, leading to unwanted distractions.
One fan hoping for swift action is former player Terrell Owens, who joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Tuesday to discuss, among other topics, Purdy's contract situation.
That's the biggest debate heading into this crucial offseason. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is the NFL's highest-paid player, with an annual average of $60 million. While Owens didn't go as far as saying Purdy should exceed that figure, he made one thing very clear.
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"I would take Brock Purdy over Dak Prescott any day, number one," Owens declared. "And I think, if you look at his production, and how he's played, a guy that has gone from the last pick of the draft, 'Mr. Irrelevant' to relevant ... I think when you have a guy like that—I think you've heard guys like Cam Newton, who's a media head right now, talk about game managers and game changers—he's one of those guys if you surround him with the right talent, he can be an elite quarterback."
Purdy played like an elite quarterback in 2023 when surrounded by healthy playmakers. He set a franchise record with 4,280 passing yards in a single season, leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance.
This past season, however, was a different story. Injuries plagued the roster, and Purdy's performance dipped. The 49ers finished with a 6-11 record, missing the playoffs. Some viewed this as evidence that the quarterback can't carry the team amid adversity, arguing he doesn't warrant top-tier pay.
Could Purdy hold out if the 49ers offer him a lowball deal? Or might the team push him to play out the final year of his rookie contract, opting for one more season of evaluation before committing a significant portion of their salary cap to one player?
"That's up for management to decide whether they want to roll the dice and go into a season where it's, obviously, contract situation looming over his head," Owens said. "You saw what happened with [WR] Brandon Aiyuk this past year. You don't want anything like that to happen.
"And obviously, going into a season, you've got to have somebody like that. You want to solidify; you want to secure those guys because he's the quarterback of your team. And so, I don't think Brock Purdy is the type of guy to hold out, per se, but like I said, anything can happen."
Owens believes that if the 49ers are genuinely committed to Purdy, as they have repeatedly claimed, they will move quickly to finalize a deal and avoid the prolonged drama that has plagued recent offseasons.
He also points out that if the 49ers had signed Aiyuk earlier last offseason, the wide receiver might have received the reps needed for a stronger start, potentially even avoiding his season-ending injury.
"Hopefully, they can get Brock Purdy sewn up," Owens concluded. "That way, my son (49ers WR Terique Owens) can get some reps and get some of those Brock Purdy balls thrown to him so I can be up there, in Levi's Stadium next year, watching my son catch some passes and score some touchdowns."
You can listen to Owens' entire interview below.