49ers’ draft picks point to Brock Purdy decision on $300 million contract extension

Billy Heyen

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49ers’ draft picks point to Brock Purdy decision on $300 million contract extension image

The San Francisco 49ers had an outside chance of shocking the NFL and drafting a quarterback.

They might still get someone in the later rounds, but even amid the Shedeur Sanders slide, they've held firm in a singular approach.

This is a defensive draft through and through for the 49ers. Their first four picks have been defensive linemen Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins, linebacker Nick Martin and cornerback Upton Stout.

That leaves the offense up to one man: Brock Purdy.

And given Purdy's attendance at this week's offseason program and the lack of QB interest in the draft, the 49ers have signaled one thing: Purdy will be getting paid.

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Purdy is likely going to get a deal in the six-year, $300 million range, which would come out to $50 million per season.

If he gets above $51 million, he'd be the 10th-highest paid QB in the NFL. Jalen Hurts currently holds that mantle right on the $51 million marker.

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There is a case to be made that San Francisco should be drafting some skill players or offensive linemen to help their soon-to-be uber-rich quarterback.

But instead, the 49ers are prioritizing defense in the draft knowing that a huge chunk of their salary cap will officially be going to offense (and maybe to George Kittle, too).

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Nothing is a sure thing, of course.

But Purdy is a potential franchise QB, albeit a mid-tier one. Teams usually can't afford to let those guys get away, even if the cost of keeping them around works out to being quite steep.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle