Brock Purdy’s NFL journey reads like a sports movie script: Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 draft, overlooked by all 32 teams until the final pick, and now the franchise quarterback of a Super Bowl contender.
After stepping in for injured teammates Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, Purdy turned heads with his poise, accuracy, and ability to run Kyle Shanahan’s offense with veteran-level command. In 2023, he led the 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl, cementing his place in NFL lore and locking down the QB1 role in San Francisco.
With that performance came the expectation of a big payday, and Purdy certainly aimed high.
Purdy Wanted $65M Per Year And Got a Reality Check
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Purdy’s initial asking price during contract negotiations was north of $60 million annually, with some reports saying as high as $65 million per year. But the 49ers weren’t biting. And neither, it turns out, was the rest of the NFL.
While the two sides ultimately agreed to a five-year, $265 million extension, Schefter revealed something even more surprising: San Francisco quietly gauged the market for a potential Purdy trade, and no teams showed serious interest.
“There were no trade offers that came in,” said Schefter. “There were no teams that really expressed interest, and Brock Purdy’s perfect for the 49ers… They didn’t view him, right now, as this $60+ million quarterback.”
Why Didn’t Other Teams Want Brock Purdy?
It’s a bizarre twist for a QB who helped guide his team to the Super Bowl. But around the league, some front offices may question whether Purdy’s success is him, or the system.
- Shanahan’s offense has historically made QBs like Jimmy Garoppolo and even Nick Mullens look efficient.
- Purdy’s lack of elite arm strength or athletic traits might make him a tough sell outside of a system tailor-made for his strengths.
- There’s also the contract risk: if a team trades for Purdy, they’re on the hook for a massive deal with limited confidence he can replicate his success elsewhere.
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Still, the 49ers Got Their Guy
Despite the surprising trade chatter and tepid league interest, the 49ers locked up their starting quarterback. The $265M deal doesn’t make him the highest-paid QB in the league, but it rewards his production while keeping the 49ers’ cap structure relatively intact.
For Purdy, it’s a win, he’s the starter on a Super Bowl-caliber team with long-term security. For the 49ers, it’s a bet that the Cinderella story still has more chapters to write.
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