San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy has been one of the NFL‘s pleasant surprises since he entered the league as Mr. Irrelevant of the 2022 NFL Draft. He’s made the most of every opportunity he’s received, becoming the first Mr. Irrelevant to start a playoff game as a rookie and leading the 49ers to the Super Bowl last year as a sophomore quarterback.
Now, Purdy is slated to become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL when he’s eligible for a contract extension after this season.
Let’s break down Purdy’s current contract and the huge payday that’s around the corner.
Details on Brock Purdy’s Contract and Salary
While being Mr. Irrelevant typically comes with a lot of exposure and some marketing opportunities, the downside of being the final pick in the NFL Draft is that you’re paid significantly less than every other starting QB in the NFL.
Purdy is still on his rookie contract, which is a four-year deal worth $3.7 million. A $77,000 bonus was paid at signing, and only $77,008 was guaranteed at signing. Purdy is earning significantly less than his NFL peers despite playing at an extremely high level.
In comparison, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently signed a record-breaking $240 million deal featuring $231 million guaranteed. Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence ($275 million) and Cleveland Browns QB Deshaun Watson ($230 million) are earning way more than Purdy, even though the 49ers QB has reached a conference title game and Super Bowl unlike the other three.
MORE: Who Are the NFL’s Highest-Paid Quarterbacks?
Purdy is making peanuts now, but he is expected to become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL in 2025 when he’s eligible for a contract extension since the cap is expected to increase again by next offseason.
If Purdy and the 49ers can’t work out a deal, he will hit free agency in 2026.
.@89JonesNTAF says the pressure is on Brock Purdy in a contract year:
"It is an audition for him every time he takes the field." pic.twitter.com/ku0WS1RZfF
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) October 10, 2024
“It’s a good problem when your quarterback is one of the highest-paid guys on your team and in the league,” 49ers CEO Jed York said at the NFL’s Annual League Meetings earlier this year. “It’s what the market is. Brock is going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before.”
Purdy’s imminent raise is why the 49ers are all-in on winning now, as they look to make the most of their available cap space without a big QB contract on the books.
In his 2022 rookie season, Purdy earned a base salary of just $705,000. That increased to $870,000 for the 2023 season, and his base salary for this season is $985,000. The last year of Purdy’s deal will pay him $1.1 million in 2025.
The team-friendly deal allows the 49ers to move other money around and surround Purdy with talent. This year, Purdy counts for just $1,004,252 against the cap — or just .3% of the 49ers’ cap space for the 2024 season, according to Over The Cap.
Purdy is also reportedly the 34th-highest-paid player on the 49ers’ roster.
Spotrac notes that Purdy the 81st-highest-paid QB in the NFL in total value. The starting QB earns less than backups such as New Orleans Saints QB Jake Haener, Detroit Lions QB Hendon Hooker, and Miami Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson.
MORE: Find Out Brock Purdy’s Net Worth and Career Earnings
The size of Purdy’s contract also means that he is easily cuttable. If the 49ers wanted to cut Purdy, it could cost them just $57,756 in dead cap. While the 49ers would obviously never release Purdy, the lack of job security is typically one of the downsides of being a late-round pick.
However, keep in mind that Purdy is still making great money from endorsements. That’s one of the perks of being the starting quarterback for a big-market team like the Niners and playing in the Super Bowl at such a young age. Purdy has done endorsement deals with Toyota, Alaska Airlines, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Ariat, among others.
Soon, Purdy will go from one of the NFL’s best bargains to potentially the highest-paid player in the league. Spotrac predicts that Purdy will sign a four-year deal worth $222,037,200, which would pay him $55.5 million annually.