The San Francisco 49ers have treated this free agency cycle as an opportunity to shed salary and reset.
More than a year removed from their close Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the 49ers are blowing it up after a down year in 2024. Part of that salary dump is likely with Brock Purdy’s future in mind, as the quarterback is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will soon be in line for a big payday.
That said, not everyone is convinced Purdy is worth a massive contract—including one NFL analyst who argued that San Francisco should trade him if he demands $60 million annually.
NFL Analyst Suggests 49ers Should Replace Brock Purdy With Aaron Rodgers
Brock Purdy shocked the league when he took over as the 49ers’ starter. As the final pick in the draft, he proved that Kyle Shanahan’s system could elevate plug-and-play quarterbacks. Purdy led the team to the NFC title game as a rookie, then took them to the Super Bowl in year two.
However, Purdy’s 2024 didn’t produce results for the 49ers, and they slipped to last place in the NFC West. Purdy threw for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He finished seventh in the league in PFSN’s QB+ metric, recording a grade of 87.6 (B+).
Those numbers are down from his 2023 output, which serves as part of the reason San Francisco ended with a 6-11 record in 2024. In 2023, he recorded a QB+ grade of 92.9, best in the NFL.
While Purdy is only 25 and can bounce back, Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn argues that he isn’t good enough to deserve a $60 million per year contract. Cohn suggested that if Purdy is unwilling to settle for anything less than that, San Franciso should trade him and sign four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.
“Granted, Rodgers is 41, and Purdy is 25. Swapping out a 25-year-old quarterback for a 41-year-old quarterback probably isn’t the wisest move. But neither is paying a good-not-great quarterback nearly $60 million per season.
“Purdy is not an elite quarterback — never has been and probably never will be. Rodgers isn’t elite anymore, although he is a future Hall of Famer. And he probably would cost the 49ers much less than what Purdy wants.”
Only one quarterback is making that amount or more: Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott. Here’s a look at the top-paid quarterbacks in the NFL:
- 1) Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys ($60 million AAV; $240 million)
- T2) Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills ($55 million AAV; $330 million)
- T2) Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals ($55 million AAV; $275 million)
- T2) Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars ($55 million AAV; $275 million)
- T2) Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers ($55 million AAV; $220 million)
The Purdy contract negotiations will be fascinating to follow. His success as the 49ers’ starter is undeniable—but not enough to make him the league’s highest-paid QB.
If Purdy is adamant on getting $60 million, Rodgers would be the perfect man to steady San Franciso’s ship. His resume speaks for itself. After a Hall of Fame run in Green Bay, he bounced back with a solid 2024 season despite missing all of 2023 with an Achilles injury.
