Why Simms was ‘encouraged’ by Purdy despite unstable 2024 season
“I was encouraged by a lot of stuff I saw from Brock Purdy last year,” Simms said on the latest “49ers Talk,” which was released Monday. “I feel like he did more off-schedule, more ‘wow’ plays, more ‘wow’ throws, making some more happen when it wasn’t there to be had than he had the two years previous to that.
“That’s where I saw a growth in his game.”
....That said, Simms also added that there were times when Purdy got away from what he does best.
“He can’t lose the surgicality in running the offense and being an absolute machine with making the right decisions play after play after play,” Simms said. “And that’s, to me, where he took a step back last year. Where I would go, man, at times I felt like he put too much on his shoulders.”
49ers have cap space to spare after roster reset, still face budget crunch in 2027 (paywall)
“Meanwhile, Lynch was on a large boat off the coast of Baja California with other members of the 49ers’ senior leadership and their wives. It was part of a perk of their employment: Owner Jed York takes the group to Cabo San Lucas for a retreat each year.
“It was a pretty good setting to celebrate over a FaceTime,” Lynch said last week on KNBR....The annual retreat is a symbol of the 49ers’ financial health, but there is hard data that indicates they are doing just fine financially when it comes to maintaining a strong roster. After they parted with eight starters in March — in part to fit Purdy’s windfall into future salary caps — the 49ers have far more breathing room than expected.
As of Tuesday the 49ers had $53.4 million in cap space, second most in the NFL, according to OverTheCap.com. That doesn’t account for the contract of just acquired pass rusher Bryce Huff, who is expected to count about $7.7 million against the 2025 cap. However, Huff’s salary won’t drop the 49ers a spot when it comes to cap space: The Lions, who rank third, are well below the 49ers at $40.1 million under the cap.
“We always look at cap over a three-year window, so I would tell people that some of the room we’ve created for ’25 is because ’26 and ’27 are going to be extremely tight,” Lynch said. “So can you roll over some of that to help us out in what we are forecasting to be some tight cap (years)? Yes. In general, our salary cap health is in a good place.”
Chris Simms changes tune regarding 49ers QB Brock Purdy
“I don’t feel like he ran the system as well last year,” Simms admitted, “but he did make more ‘wow,’ backyard off-schedule plays that I was really impressed by. Now, hopefully, we can get both of those to meet and mesh together.”
While Maiocco acknowledged that Purdy may not stand out physically among NFL quarterbacks, he asked Simms to evaluate Purdy’s mental processing and field awareness, areas where Purdy has consistently earned praise.
“Yeah, he’s like top 10 in football in that department, there’s no question,” Simms responded. “Maybe even like, if I really got into that stuff, he might be top six or seven in football in that department.”
Simms added that Purdy reads the field like a player who has been in the league for nine years.
“He can anticipate, and see a window, and just drop it in there before a guy comes out of his break,” Simms said. “You’ve got to love that aspect about him. And then, yes, I know, whether watching him or talking to [head coach Kyle] Shanahan, it’s unlimited, the playbook. He can handle all of that.”
Despite praising Purdy’s fit in Shanahan’s system, Simms isn’t ready to declare that the quarterback would have the same success elsewhere. He pointed to environments like Buffalo, where cold-weather games demand a different style, as locations where he might not thrive.
“But as far as decision-making, feel, anticipation, nuance of the game, when to go to backyard football, when to hold the ball in the pocket, and not put yourself in danger that way, that’s where I really like Brock Purdy,” Simms added. “And he’s amazing at some of that stuff.”
49ers roster moves: Trent Taylor to IR, Bryce Huff clears physical, new receiver signed
“He has spent his two-year career with the Vikings (2023-24) and Green Bay Packers (2024).
A 24-year-old native of Mansfield, TX, Knowles attended Kansas State University (2018-22) where he appeared in 51 games (39 starts) and totaled 127 receptions for 1,867 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air to go along with 36 carries for 440 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He earned Second-Team All-Big 12 in 2021.”