An Inner Divisional Rival’s Take On Brock Purdy’s Contract Negotiation
Yesterday, Los Angeles Rams star receiver Puka Nacua went on Julian Edelman’s "Games With Names" Podcast, where Edelman brought up the 49ers’ contract negotiations with Brock Purdy, asking Nacua for his perspective on the situation. Nacua responded by chiming in on how San Francisco’s Super Bowl window would be closed if the annual contract number begins with a five. This statement comes as a surprise from a player on a divisional rival. I find it shocking that he would publicly comment on another team’s contract negotiation and decision-making process.
Nacua’s comments are reflective of how the rest of the NFL teams view Purdy as a franchise quarterback and how noticeably San Francisco has regressed since the beginning of last season. $50 million annually is the mark of franchise quarterback-level money. It would make the 49ers organization completely buy into Purdy as their future building block at the position. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the length of this contract negotiation. To compare, the Bills this offseason didn’t waste their time by handing Josh Allen more guaranteed money. The 49ers are doing the exact opposite. The front office has mixed feelings about whether Purdy is worth the money he is asking.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has turned average quarterbacks like Jimmy Garoppolo into more than capable starters. $50 million might be less impactful than it used to be on a team’s cap sheet as the salary cap continues to rise, but the 49ers need to be incredibly confident in their decision with this particular contract extension. They can’t afford to make mistakes with their upcoming contract negotiations like they have done in the past with players like Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, and Brandon Aiyuk. Whether a contract is done or not, Purdy needs to prove he is capable of elevating the 49ers’ offense and replicating his performance from 2023.
The 49ers have already reportedly offered Purdy a contract extension per Matt Maiocco, which has reportedly been rejected by Purdy and his agent. This puts the organization in an intriguing position heading into next week’s NFL Draft. San Francisco could feel uncomfortable with offering a certain number and could play hardball with Purdy and his agent. Based on prior contract negotiation history, the team usually ends up budging in the end, but this situation could be different. However, if negotiations end smoothly with Purdy, I expect divisional matchups between the 49ers and Rams to bring meaningful entertainment.
