SANTA CLARA, CA — Thanks to signing a five-year $265 million extension with $181 million guaranteed and an annual salary of $53 million, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy needs to prove his worth this coming season.
Purdy, famously selected 262nd, last in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Iowa State, Purdy has gone from being Mr. Irrelevant to Mr. Moneybag in inking one of the largest contracts in NFL history.
The 25-year-old, 6’1, 220-pounder completed 300-455 passes (65.9 percent) for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while posting a QB rating of 96.1.
In his two years as starting quarterback, Purdy is just shy of 10,000 passing yards as he has thrown for 9,518 yards, 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions and a QB rating of 104.9
Down from his 2023 season of passing for a career-best—so far—of 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, the upcoming 2025-26 season needs to be a bounce back year.
Thanks to losing Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a 2025 fifth-round pick—which would be used to select former Oregon Ducks running back Jordan James—an otherwise passé approach to free agency, and not properly surrounding Purdy with additional weapons, it appears that the Niners are banking on Purdy to shoulder more of the offensive burden.
While WR Brandon Aiyuk and TE George Kittle, will likely be Purdy’s go-to weapons on the outside, you have to wonder if RB Christian McCaffrey will make it thru a full season.
Perhaps that’s why the Niners selected James, as insurance in case McCaffrey gets injured again. Make no mistake, this is now officially Purdy’s team. Big contract and all.
Now, it is fully on him to lead the Niners back to the Super Bowl and finish the job once and for all.
Photo: Robert D. Cobb – INSC Media & Photography