Reports are emerging that contract negotiations between the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy could take longer than expected. While both sides initially hoped for a quick and drama-free resolution, it now appears that an agreement might not be reached until after the draft.
Purdy's value remains a topic of debate, especially as the 49ers undergo a roster overhaul this offseason—a move some believe is aimed at clearing future cap space for the quarterback's contract. While many feel that an annual salary under $50 million would be fair for the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, one 49ers insider believes the final number will be higher.
"I can't imagine that the Niners would undermine their quarterback position and a guy that they need to lead them out of this free agency abyss by shortchanging Brock Purdy," Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group said this week on KNBR, "when they're on record—as the coach, the general manager, and the owner—are all on record that they want to pay him, that he obviously deserves to get paid."
Purdy is set to earn $5.35 million in 2025, a significant increase from the $985,000 he earned in 2024. Still, there's no question that he's been one of the NFL's best bargains in recent years—and it's time for the 49ers to pay up.
"The guy needs to be making over $50 million a year, and I'm not going to get into a fight whether he deserves it or not," Inman stated. "That is the market rate for a top-tier NFL quarterback. However deep you want that tier to be, whether it's 5, 10, or 15 [quarterbacks], that's what he deserves to be making."
Asking around, Inman gets the sense that a deal isn't expected to come together quickly—at least not as quickly as Purdy and the 49ers initially hoped. However, he also doesn't believe it needs to get done before the draft.
"To me, it just needs to get done probably right after the draft because they start the offseason program in mid-April," Inman added. "But those first couple weeks are strictly strength training, and you're not on the field with [head coach Kyle] Shanahan and Klay Kubiak, who's now the offensive coordinator, until you're like two weeks into that. So I'm talking like early May.
"And, to me, that's when it's most important that Brock's signed, sealed, and delivered because you don't need to be dragging this out for another month to save some pennies, and just get the deal done."
You can listen to the entire Inman interview below.