“I want Brock to be our quarterback for as long as we’re here and beyond.” That was the 49ers’ general manager, John Lynch, announcing the start of Purdy’s contract negotiations in February. But cut to the present, and we haven’t heard about any contract or extension. Not even a whisper. Picture this: When it comes to a full-scale roster shuffle this off-season, the front office has been moving pieces like a game of chess, making big decisions left and right. And yet, Purdy, who’s ready to enter the final season of his rookie deal, isn’t close to getting another deal done.

To make things even worse for Purdy, the NFL insider Adam Schefter believes that the 49ers could franchise tag him instead of offering a contract extension. In early March, he said on his podcast: “I think people forget the fact that if they can’t get a deal done, the Niners simply could have him play this year for $5.1 million, tag him again next year for $41 million, and tag him the year after for $51 million.” But let’s be real—tagging him and paying him around $97 million for the next three seasons could be a smart move for the franchise. But for the QB?

Nope.

If the 49ers decide to franchise tag Purdy, it could put him in a tough financial spot. While the tag guarantees him a high salary for one season, it comes with a lot of risks and uncertainty. For 2025, the franchise tag for quarterbacks is set at $41.325 million, and as reported by Schefter, they could they could tag him again, but none of this would lead to long-term security.

Compare that to a long-term extension. Reports suggest Purdy is looking for a deal worth $50 million per year. A five-year, $250 million contract would likely include financial security for years to come. Unlike the franchise tag, a long-term contract locks in stability, protects against injuries, and gives Purdy the ability to negotiate his worth.

The biggest downside of the franchise tag? No leverage. Once tagged, Purdy can’t negotiate with other teams, meaning he’s stuck playing year-to-year at the mercy of the 49ers. If he gets injured or struggles, his chances of landing a massive deal shrink. He also misses out on signing bonuses and incentives that come with long-term deals. So while the franchise tag may seem like a big payday in the short term, it’s a risky move for Purdy. But there is some good news. What is it?

That’s where Albert Breer comes in. He believes that the 49ers’ downfall in the 2025 offseason is basically overstated. In his article for SI, he wrote: “While a good chunk of the core of the 2023 Super Bowl team is gone now, the Niners did get ahead of a few potential losses, signing Brandon Aiyuk (four years, $120 million) and Deommodore Lenoir (five years, $88.9 million) to long-term contracts, and Jauan Jennings (two years, $15.4 million) and Colton McKivitz (1 year, $5.85 million) to shorter-term deals. That’s with Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey intact as All-Pro foundation pieces to build around, and with a big contract for Brock Purdy coming.”

Here’s the deal: San Francisco hasn’t extended Purdy’s contract, no doubt. And honestly, besides their financial concerns, there could be certain reasons behind that. Whether it’s his 6-9 record in the 2024 season or those 23 interceptions in the last couple of years. Every penny counts. But let’s not kid ourselves—the 49ers believe that Purdy’s their guy. And his contract extension is going to play a crucial role in this offseason. However, we simply can’t ignore what Schefter said earlier this month.

Will the 49ers really franchise tag Brock Purdy?

“Brock Purdy probably, or at least his agent probably, would be disappointed to have to play for $97 million over the next three years, but the Niners have his rights,” Schefter further said. See, the 49ers want to keep Purdy, and there’s no doubt about that. The catch? Well, they’re financially limited at this point.

In the last season, they already extended Brandon Aiyuk on a four-year $120 million deal and handed Deommodore Lenoir a five-year $88.9 million contract. Fast forward to now—16 players gone; Deebo Samuel shipped off to the Commanders, and the roster looking like it just took a heavy punch.

And amidst this chaos, extending Purdy for… let’s just say nearly $50 million per year? Yeah, that’s probably going to sting their financial recalibration. But if you’re thinking that this debate is done now—well, give it another try.

But it’s unlikely that the 49ers would mess around with their QB’s contract. After all, their plan is to win a Lombardi with Brock Purdy. What do you think?