Every NFL offseason, chaos takes over—big names switch teams, front offices make wild moves, and fans either celebrate or stress out. This year, two teams have been making all the noise, but for totally different reasons. The New England Patriots have been insanely aggressive, throwing money around like it’s Monopoly cash. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers? They’ve taken major hits in free agency, losing key players left and right. But despite all that, their biggest storyline isn’t about who left—it’s about making sure Brock Purdy stays.

There’s zero debate—Purdy is the guy in San Francisco. The team knows it, and he does too. That’s why, even with all the roster changes, locking him down on a long-term deal is priority No. 1. Sources say an extension isn’t imminent, but both sides are negotiating and want it done before the 2025 season kicks off. Could it happen before the NFL Draft next month? Maybe. But as one league source put it, “There’s not a rush.” The real question isn’t when he’ll sign. It’s how much he’s getting paid.

At one point, it looked like Brock Purdy might break the bank and pass Dak Prescott’s $60 million-per-year deal. That seems less likely now, but insiders still think he’ll land somewhere between $50-$55 million, maybe even more. The 49ers love dragging out contract talks—just ask Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, or Trent Williams. “I really just think Kyle (Shanahan) and John (Lynch) want to get this done,” a current GM told FOX Sports. “The final number will be tricky, but the cap is rising, and the quarterback market is only going up.” After all the injuries, brutal losses, and drama with Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, the last thing the Niners need is another messy contract situation playing out in public.

One thing working in their favor? Purdy’s been balling out on a super cheap rookie deal, so maybe—just maybe—he gives them a slight hometown discount. “Perhaps a little,” the GM said. “But Purdy’s getting paid, that’s a fact. The benefit the 49ers have is that he’s been playing on a very team-friendly deal, so maybe he takes a little less to lock in long-term security.” Translation: He’s still securing the bag, but he might leave a little extra for the team to work with. Either way, the 49ers can’t afford to mess around—QBs don’t get cheaper, and Shanahan and Lynch know they need to lock this up sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, in a full-circle moment, the 49ers brought in Mac Jones as a backup. After losing both their No. 2 and No. 3 quarterbacks in free agency. Shanahan was this close to drafting Jones at No. 3 back in 2021 before pivoting to Trey Lance (which, yeah, didn’t exactly work out). Now, years later, they’re finally working together. But let’s be real—this is Brock Purdy’s team, no debate. Jones is just here for depth, not competition. His arrival changes nothing about Purdy’s extension. The only thing left to figure out? Just how big that contract is gonna be.

49ers lowballing Purdy? Yeah, that won’t end well

The 49ers and contract negotiations? Yeah, they go together like peanut butter and drama. And now, it’s Brock Purdy’s turn to step into the front office’s bargaining ring. Previously, on Tuesday, NFL insider Jason La Canfora claimed the Niners were trying to lock Purdy in for just $45 million a year—an offer that had everyone side-eyeing the team. But before things spiraled, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini jumped in to shut it down, calling the report “false” and even saying, “I will bet my phone on it.” And honestly? Thank God. Because offering Purdy anything in that range would’ve been wildly disrespectful. This guy literally led them to a Super Bowl in 2023, and they thought $45M was a fair deal? Yeah, that wouldn’t fly.

That said, even if the $45 million rumor was bogus, it doesn’t change the fact that the 49ers have a history of dragging their feet when it comes to paying their stars. Just look at Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk. All of them had to wait until the last possible moment to get their deals done. So, it wouldn’t be shocking if Purdy’s contract talks followed the same exhausting pattern. While it’s true that he dealt with injuries last season, playing 15 games and throwing for 3,864 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s still by far their best shot at staying competitive. If the team sees him as their long-term guy, why turn this into an unnecessary headache? Just pay him and move forward.

Of course, the 49ers do have a backup plan—they could franchise-tag Purdy for two seasons at $92 million. But let’s be real, that’s not a solution he’d be thrilled about. No quarterback wants to be stuck playing year-to-year with zero long-term security. Especially after spending the last two seasons on a dirt-cheap rookie contract. And if the Niners think they can get away with lowballing him, they’re playing with fire. The franchise tag has caused plenty of QB-team breakups in the past (just ask Lamar Jackson or Kirk Cousins), and Purdy’s value is only going up. If San Francisco drags this out too long, they might push their franchise QB into a corner. Which isn’t happening as you have read previously on the top.

At the end of the day, Purdy isn’t just an overachieving late-round pick anymore—he’s the face of the franchise. He’s outperforming his draft status, won over the locker room, and taken this team to the biggest stage. If the 49ers don’t want another offseason circus filled with contract drama, they need to quit playing hardball and pay the man already. Otherwise, they risk messing with their QB1 at the absolute worst time.