Brock Purdy is one year away from being eligible for a contract extension, but San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York is already planning for what the quarterback's new deal might look like.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL league meetings, York said he expects Purdy "to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before" when the two sides get to the negotiating table.
"It's a good problem when your quarterback is one of the highest-paid guys on your team and in the league," he added.
One reason why the 49ers have been able to assemble a roster of stars on expensive contracts is because of the flexibility Purdy's contract has given them.
As the final pick of the 2022 draft, Purdy's entire rookie contract is worth $3.7 million over four years. For comparison, Jameis Winston's deal with the Cleveland Browns will pay him $4 million this season alone.
The 2024 season will mark the first time Purdy's cap hit exceeds $1 million. He won't earn more than $1 million in base salary until 2025 ($1.1 million).
When Purdy does eventually sign an extension, the 49ers' cap situation and roster building will become more difficult. They are currently projected to be $23.9 million over the estimated cap in 2025. That's before working out an extension with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whom general manager John Lynch has said they intend to keep amid trade rumors.
As things currently stand, Joe Burrow is the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL with an average annual salary of $55 million. Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts are the only other quarterbacks making at least $50 million per season.
There are 12 quarterbacks whose contracts pay them at least $40 million annually.
It's safe to say Purdy's value for the 49ers has far exceeded his contract thus far. The 24-year-old has thrown for 5,654 yards, 44 touchdowns and completed 68.7 percent of his attempts in 25 games (21 starts).
San Francisco is 17-4 in the regular season with Purdy as its starting quarterback. He has led the team to back-to-back NFC Championship Games, guided the Niners to an appearance in Super Bowl 58 and finished fourth in MVP voting last season.
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