The football gods have a twisted sense of humor, don’t they? One minute, the 49ers are deep in contract talks to secure Brock Purdy’s future, and the next, they’re out here scrambling for a backup QB like a team that just realized the draft board isn’t stacked in their favor.

And guess what? Brandon Allen just left the building. That’s right, Purdy’s backup from last season packed his bags and signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. Now, if you’re thinking, Wait, that’s just a backup QB, let’s talk about why this actually matters.

The 49ers—who just watched Sam Darnold pull a career revival in their system before cashing in on a $100M deal with Seattle—know the value of having a solid insurance policy behind Purdy. And with contract negotiations looming over their starter, losing Allen is a subtle but significant blow.

Also, let’s not ignore the fact that Allen didn’t just go anywhere. He reunited with Brian Callahan, his former OC from Cincinnati, meaning this wasn’t some last-minute, desperate signing. The Titans saw something they liked. Maybe it’s his experience, maybe it’s just familiarity, or maybe—and this is where it gets fun—they’re setting up the most uninspiring QB battle in history between Will Levis and Allen.

But that’s when Kyle Shanahan and Co. have responded. With Mac Jones on a two-year, $7 million deal. I mean, yeah, sure, you’re laughing at the idea of Jones in a 49ers uniform after all the drama from the 2021 draft. Well, this is the same franchise that famously passed on Jones to draft Trey Lance. And now? They’ve essentially chosen Jones over Lance, anyway. Football is wild.

Now, look at us getting distracted with the backup QB talks while the real story here is about Purdy’s impending extension. The 49ers wouldn’t be in this position if Purdy wasn’t on the verge of getting paid. The man has earned it. He put up 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a 96.1 passer rating in 2024.

But more importantly, he’s the guy Shanahan believes in. And as Purdy himself put it, “Faith is what keeps me calm and consistent. I understand who I am playing for.” Translation: the dude wants to be here. So, the real question is, how much will it take to keep him?

Certainly not giving the Will Levis treatment to Brock Purdy

Two months ago, Brian Callahan told Will Levis straight up: a new quarterback was coming. Draft? Free agency? No doors were closed. And now, here we are—Brandon Allen is in the building. Not exactly a blockbuster move, but enough to let Levis know that Tennessee’s QB room is open for business. So, no No. 1 overall QB coming in April. Just some good old-fashioned competition.

Meanwhile, the 49ers? No such drama. They let Allen walk, brought in Mac Jones, and kept it moving. In simple words, they are putting all their energy in the real conversation: Brock Purdy’s payday. And guess what? The money’s already trickling in. The final pick of the 2022 draft just cashed in $857,842.50 in performance-based pay. More than a fair boost considering his original paycheck was closer to rookie lunch money.

That bonus? It’s part of the NFL’s formula to compensate guys who play a ton but earn peanuts on rookie deals. Purdy, with an 81.3% snap count last season, basically doubled his base salary. But let’s be real—this is couch change compared to what’s coming. Purdy’s rookie deal is about to expire, and the 49ers have a decision to make.

The big question isn’t if he gets paid, but when. “I don’t get the sense that it’s imminent, imminent. But it’s always coming,” Ian Rapoport said. The number? That’s where it gets interesting. Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence—those guys are pulling $55-60 million per year. That’s the neighborhood we’re talking about for Purdy.

San Francisco has been careful with big contracts. But their track record tells us that they should get it over the line. Purdy’s heading into his final rookie-year payday, set to make $5.28 million in 2025. The dude has a 23-13 regular-season record and a 4-2 playoff run. If the 49ers want to lock in their guy long-term, they’d better do it soon. So that the Faithful can finally stop holding their breath.