The San Francisco 49ers have yet to fully commit to Brock Purdy for the long term.
Purdy still has one more season before he’s eligible for a contract extension. If he wins the Super Bowl, the 49ers will undoubtedly offer him a lucrative deal. But what if he fails to secure the Super Bowl for the third consecutive season? What would the 49ers do then?
Head coach Kyle Shanahan respects Brock Purdy and considers him a good quarterback. However, the critical question is whether Shanahan believes Purdy is good enough to win a Super Bowl. If Shanahan doesn’t see Purdy as an elite quarterback, would he consider trading Purdy for a more proven, elite option next year?
It is possible that Shanahan privately holds Purdy partially responsible for the 49ers’ most recent Super Bowl loss, as he rarely blames himself. While Purdy performed well against the Chiefs, he wasn’t exceptional.
If the 49ers can’t win a Super Bowl while Purdy is earning about $1 million per season, it raises the question of how they would fare if he’s making around $60 million per season. They might conclude that he was the best option during his rookie contract but that a more expensive deal would make another quarterback more viable.
Potential trades could involve sending Purdy to the Cowboys for Dak Prescott or to the Falcons for Kirk Cousins. Shanahan and Cousins share a close relationship and might want to work together again before retiring.
Stranger things have happened in the NFL.
