Teams in quarterback purgatory are sometimes stuck into giving mediocre quarterbacks long term deals that sink the organization for years after. The New York Giants did that with Daniel Jones, the New Orleans Saints had something similar with Derek Carr.
According to Grant Cohn of 49ers on SI, the San Francisco 49ers are doing just that now with quarterback Brock Purdy.
After a season in which Purdy put up career worst numbers in completion percentage, interceptions, and passer rating, the 49ers are left with a difficult choice with the former seventh-round steal in need of a new cotnract.
Do they extend Purdy and hope he can elevate talent eventually, or let him walk in free agency and restart a bit at the quarterback position?
Cohn has the answer on his mind.
"Now Purdy wants the big bucks. And he hasn't proven he's worth it," Cohn wrote. "He doesn't seem to be a quarterback who elevates the team around him. He seems like a quarterback who can be elevated by a great supporting cast, similar to Garoppolo. But Purdy won't have a great supporting cast if he's taking up more than 20 percent of the 49ers cap space."
Related: 49ers Find Brock Purdy Protection in Latest NFL Mock Draft
San Francisco is in a bind. They've already lost a strong collection of their once-top defense, and the offense just traded away Deebo Samuel with Brandon Aiyuk potentially next.
With an aging roster, it's not hard to see why the 49ers are stuck a bit on Purdy.
Even if he played admirably in a Super Bowl from two years ago.
The Giants made a similar mistake when they paid Jones over top players like Saquon Barkley and Xavier McKinney. The 49ers may be making that same mistake now with Purdy.
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This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM.