The San Francisco 49ers locked down their starting quarterback for years to come when they signed Brock Purdy to a lucrative extension.
Purdy, the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, inked a five-year extension for $265 million with $188 million guaranteed and a $40 million signing bonus.
Former NFL scout John Middlekauff thinks this was a great signing — but maybe not for the reasons you think.
How Brock Purdy Compares to Golfer Scottie Scheffler
Yes, Middlekauff thinks this was a solid move by San Fransico and Purdy is a good player. The former Iowa State signal-caller threw for 3,864 yards with 20 touchdowns in 2024 with a QB+ grade of 87.6 (seventh). And in 2023, he led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game after leading the league with a 113.0 passer rating after tossing for 4,280 yards and 31 TDs.
But it’s Purdy’s comportment that stands out to Middlekauff, who worked for the Philadelphia Eagles. And it reminds him of another standout athlete, although not on the gridiron: golfer Scottie Scheffler.
Scheffler, whose career earnings, according to Spotrac, are over $146 million, still drives the 2012 Yukon given to him by his father for graduating from college.
“[Purdy] reminds me a lot the way he conducts himself, the way he acts, the way he talks, like Scottie Scheffler,” Middlekauff explained on his podcast “3 and Out with John Middlekauff.”
“Now Scottie Scheffler is going to go down as one of the greatest players ever. Obviously, Brock Purdy is not as good at his sport as Scottie Scheffler is at his sport. [But] he’s one of those guys completely unfazed by money. Will not be impacted one iota. Absolutely zero.”
In fact, Purdy said his first big purchase might be a bass boat — hardly a splash, as they can range from roughly $8,000-$112,000. Well, as long as his wife gives him the OK.
It’s not just Purdy who comes out a winner with his deal, though, according to Middlekauff. The 49ers and the NFL make out as well.
As Middlekauff explains, other leagues can get buried by long, guaranteed contracts. He noted the New York Mets are tied down long term (and for a lot of money) to Juan Soto, no matter how he plays.
It’s not just MLB with expensive, long-term contracts. The NBA does it as well. Middlekauff said it’s hard for those teams to extract themselves if the players suddenly sour.
“I think that’s the healthiest thing the NFL does,” Middlekauff said. “It doesn’t tie itself to this crazy guaranteed money. [MLB and NBA teams] can’t get rid of these guys.”
“You know who gets screwed?” Middlekauff asked. “The fans. There’s no more consumer-friendly model than [the NFL].”
Middlekauff reiterated that he thinks Purdy will be just fine and “he’s going to see this money.” He pointed to the recently retired Derek Carr, who made loads of money just because “he was good enough to just be the starter year after year after year.”
Clearly, San Francisco is investing in Purdy to be better than just a starter. But if he’s not, the 49ers can get out of the contract in a couple of years. And that’s a good thing, according to Middlekauff.
“Sometimes the NFL gets a lot of flak,” he said. “They run their business a lot different than other sports, it’s the reason why their sport is the most healthy because they can pivot out of things.”
