From the last pick in the NFL's draft to the first name atop the list of its highest-paid players?
It sure would be a poetic story arc for the San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy, who has had a storybook rise since beginning his NFL career as a third-string rookie quarterback out of Iowa State.
Entering his third season, Purdy has quickly become one of the best quarterbacks in the league, at least statistically. Whether or not he receives the lion's share of the credit, Purdy has led the league's most efficient offense since the start of 2023.
At the end of the 2024 season, Purdy will finally be able to negotiate a new deal, escaping the $1 million salary his seventh-round pick status has constrained him to. The 49ers seem more than likely to keep him around, but what will the price tag be?
According to NFL insider Mike Sando of The Athletic, there seems to be a consensus among league personnel that Purdy has a chance to become the highest-paid quarterback in history, even if they still aren't sure how worthy he is of that distinction.
"Coaches and executives think Purdy is a great fit for the star-studded 49ers, and a good player. They question is: How well would he fare with an average cast around him, or without Shanahan designing the offense? Coaches and execs don’t think Purdy will ever be able to carry a team the way Mahomes or the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen can," Sando said.
"Recent history says none of that will matter when it comes time for a new contract. Purdy... does not appear finished rising. The league will not blink if and when he passes (Dak) Prescott or whoever else happens to be the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback at the time."
The aforementioned Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million extension with the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, so for Purdy to become the league's next highest-paid signal caller, San Francisco would have to top Prescott's $60 million annual salary.
It represents an interesting dilemma. The 49ers have built the NFL's most explosive offense around the cheapest starting quarterback in the league. Can they still do it if and when they have the most expensive starting quarterback?
Many of their top skill players are locked in on long-term deals, so the payroll crunch could spread to other parts of the roster. But the 49ers' days of exploiting the league's biggest salary cap cheat code are nearly over, so they'd better make the most of them.
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