Brock Purdy proved himself an NFL worthy when almost no one believed in him. A 262nd—dead last—pick in the 2022 draft. A chance after both the starter and backup QB went down with season-threatening injuries. The 49ers had no other option but to give a chance to a 23-year-old Purdy in the 2022 season. And we all know what Purdy did for San Francisco, including their long-waited Super Bowl appearance in the 2023 season. Knowing his value, the 49ers GM John Lynch is also keen on having Purdy in San Francisco only. “What we know about Brock is, he’s our guy,” Lynch said in January after the season ended. “We have interest in Brock being around here for a long, long time. He’s done so much for our organization.” But could there be a shift in San Francisco’s plans? Because Lynch may want a tough guy as his quarterback.

Back in Dec 2024, when the 49ers clashed against the Rams, Lynch was full of praise for the Rams QB Matthew Stafford. So much so that the 49ers GM believes that you have to play four quarters versus a Matthew Stafford-led team to beat him. “The toughness, above all else. Everybody talks about the talent and arm angles, but this dude is a tough guy. He can get hit and knocked down, but he just keeps coming,” Lynch told about Stafford. “I think the other thing is what I spoke to — the arm angles, no-look passes; it’s really bold what he does, it blows my mind. He did it in the Super Bowl, looking over here throwing it over the middle of the field.”

With Brock Purdy’s contract set to expire next season, Lynch’s glowing remarks about Stafford have raised eyebrows. Could this be a subtle hint that the 49ers are open to shifting gears from a rising star to a seasoned veteran?

Well, after a poor 2024 season, Matthew Stafford is kicking in to find a team where he could be traded. The 37-year-old quarterback wishes to re-sign with the Rams solely, but there is no decision yet since Los Angeles—a franchise worth $7.6 billion— is not aiming to sign Stafford due to his age, but rather go for a young quarterback. Well, the Rams want a long-term answer, not just a quick Super Bowl victory.

The team planned to select Bo Nix in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft. But unfortunately, they never had the opportunity to do that, and Purdy is very close. Brock Purdy is still young and has the potential to be a significant threat as his talent develops. This might help Los Angeles win many more games instead of an immediate Super Bowl. Things are looking spicy here.

This means that from their perspective, the agreement would be ideal. And if everything goes well, in 2025, Brock Purdy can be seen in a white and yellow kit. On the other hand, the 49ers may experiment extensively with Matthew Stafford. The team will do so as the man will bring 12 years of experience to the table. The team might look for alternative WRs and RBs who will work well with Stafford. In addition, the 37-year-old will bring a high level of maturity to the field.

But will the 49ers be affected by his age? Well, at the very least, it is out of the question for the 2025 season. After that, maybe the team will find a solution. But wait, the team’s problem does not end here. They also need to work on their defense. But why defense? Well, a huge CB has officially decided to say goodbye to the team.

Top Comment by Chintan Patel

He asked us to bear with him in the middle of the article. The only thing right about this article...more

Share your take

Debate

Charvarius Ward hopes to bid farewell to the 49ers

Charvarius Ward had a rather difficult year in 2024. Out of the field, the CB experienced a significant loss when his daughter passed away at the age of less than two. If the reports are true, she was suffering from heart problems, and complications caused her death. Ward has not been himself since, and the 49ers appear to be a place he does not enjoy. It’s giving him flashbacks, and as a result, he could be looking forward to joining another team when he hits free agency in March.

This might be disastrous for the 49ers, as they have yet to find a successor for him. Oh-no. Not only that, but USA TODAY reporters speculated on Ward’s next team, too. Tyler Dragon, their reporter, revealed that the Detroit Lions could be the CB’s next landing spot. The 49ers are making every effort to bring back the CB since he is a crucial element to the entire team’s defense. But Ward’s statements have cleared his future.

In an interview, the CB stated, “I’ve got a lot of trauma in California. I had a lot of great times, but the worst thing that’s ever happened to me, that’s probably going to ever happen to me—knock on wood—happened in California. It can just bring up bad memories. Every time I get on a plane and come back to California, Santa Clara, San Jose, and show up here, it just brings up bad memories.”

It’s truly hurtful to see a talented CB like him suffer from all these things. We hope that Ward heals from this and gets back in his form pretty soon.