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The San Francisco 49ers once thought Trey Lance would be their future. After drafting him third overall in 2021, the team hoped to win a Super Bowl by building around a quarterback on a rookie contract. That plan worked — just not with Lance. Instead, Brock Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft, stepped in and became the face of the franchise. He led the 49ers to back-to-back NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl appearance in 2023. But despite those successes, the 49ers still haven’t claimed their sixth Lombardi Trophy.
Highest-Paid Player in Team History
Now, the bargain is over. The 49ers signed Purdy to a five-year, $265 million deal this offseason. The contract includes $181 million in guarantees, making Purdy the highest-paid player in team history and the seventh-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL based on annual average.
While the deal’s early cap hits are manageable, the pressure is on. Purdy’s days of being one of the best bargains in football are behind him — and he must now prove he’s worth the investment.
A Favorable Setup for 2025
The 49ers enter 2025 with the NFL’s easiest schedule, based on last year’s win-loss records. And they expect to welcome back key offensive pieces who missed time in 2024. Running back Christian McCaffrey, receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and left tackle Trent Williams should all return healthy. Tight end George Kittle, who recently signed an extension, remains one of Purdy’s most trusted targets.
With those stars in place, the opportunity is there for Purdy to deliver. Another Super Bowl run might be a stretch considering the roster turnover, but a return to his 2023 form would be a strong sign that the 49ers made the right call.
Proven Numbers Back Up the Praise
Team owner Jed York made headlines in March when he said Purdy is one of the ten best quarterbacks in the league. It’s not just talk. Since becoming the starter in late 2022, Purdy ranks fourth in Total QBR (70.2), third in passing yards (9,452), first in yards per attempt (8.9), and seventh in touchdown passes (64). York made it clear the team sees Purdy as a long-term leader.
Big Contract, Big Changes
Even before Purdy signed his new deal, the 49ers were already reshaping the roster. This offseason saw the departures of top contributors like Charvarius Ward, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Aaron Banks, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Jordan Mason. On defense, they also released linemen Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd.
The result was a massive $81 million in dead cap space — the highest in the NFL — and a roster that will rely heavily on 11 rookies. It’s clear the team cleared the deck to make room for Purdy’s extension.
Support from the Locker Room
Despite the financial shake-up, Purdy still has the full support of San Francisco’s core leaders. Fred Warner, Kittle, Williams, and McCaffrey have all publicly backed the quarterback and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the team forward.
Time to Answer the Call
Purdy’s 2024 season came with challenges. With several starters sidelined, his production dipped. His touchdown-to-interception ratio dropped from 2.8 in 2023 to 1.7 in 2024, and he struggled in late-game situations. When trailing in the fourth quarter, he posted just three touchdowns and five interceptions, with a QBR of 54.6 — 20th in the NFL.
Still, he finished the year with a 67.9 QBR (seventh-best in the league) and ran for a career-high 323 yards with five rushing scores. The team saw enough to commit to him as the franchise quarterback.
A New Era in San Francisco
For Kyle Shanahan, giving out a big quarterback contract means full trust. If that trust is misplaced, it can set a team back for years. The 49ers believe Purdy is worth the bet — not just to maintain past success, but to elevate the team even as pieces around him change.
Now, it’s up to Purdy to lead the next chapter of 49ers football — and prove he can carry the weight of being the guy.
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This report used information from ESPN.
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TODAY'S BEST
Intriguing reunion on table for Steelers with trade deadline nearing
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a team that is looking to solidify itself as a competitor in the AFC for the 2025 season, and the franchise should be looking to make some moves around the trade deadline. The organization already brought in safety Kyle Dugger from the New England Patriots, and he made an immediate impact in a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Steelers could use some help on the offensive side of the ball as well, but more additions could be made to shore up the defense as well. There is some positional uncertainty at safety for the Steelers as well as a bunch of injuries. The position has changed a ton throughout the season, and the Steelers could certainly use some more depth in the area. Unfortunately, Minkah Fitzpatrick would only be an option if he were to be cut as Pittsburgh cannot trade for him within two years of trading him away. However, his former running mate, Damontae Kazee, is a potential option for the Steelers after he was released by the Cleveland Browns on Monday. Kazee is a veteran with a good amount of experience, and he could certainly sign with Pittsburgh if the front office wants him to return to the black and gold. However, there are other safety-needy teams throughout the league as well. The coaching staff in the Steel City understands and appreciates familiar voices on the roster, and Kazee could provide decent depth while also being familiar with the defense and everyone in the building. Juan Thornhill and Chuck Clark have been other contributors at safety for the Steelers in 2025, but there is a real chance that Kazee might be a better option than either of those players. Both Thornhill and Clark have seemed to be at the center of communication issues in the secondary, and whenever there is an obvious coverage bust, Clark seems to always be one of the players closest to it. Kazee signed with the Browns during the 2025 offseason, and he had only played in four games through the first nine weeks of the season. He had been on the field for just 11 defensive snaps, as he seemed to be more of a special teamer in Cleveland. Despite the reduced role in 2025, he could provide some value to Pittsburgh, even if he is just signed to the practice squad. The fan base in Pittsburgh might not have always loved Kazee, but he played a lot of football for the Steelers throughout the three seasons he spent with the team. At the very least, he provides depth for Pittsburgh at a position of need, and he wouldn't be expensive to sign. This is the type of signing the Steelers would make, and it completely makes sense to do so. Pittsburgh Steelers have found a successful safety combination Ahead of Pittsburgh's game on Sunday against the Colts, it was announced that cornerback Jalen Ramsey would be playing exclusively free safety. He had been playing some safety throughout the year depending on what the opposing offense was doing, but on Sunday, he did not leave the position. It was Ramsey and Dugger leading the way in the defensive backfield, and the duo had a pretty good day. It will be interesting to see if that is something the Steelers continue to use in the coming weeks, but it probably should be since it was so effective against the best offense in the NFL.
Mike Vrabel responds to accusation that Patriots simulated Falcons' snap on key fourth-quarter play
Notable update emerges about Jayden Daniels' gruesome injury
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a serious injury late in his team's loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night, but a positive update has since emerged. Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow when he was sacked midway through the fourth quarter by Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas. Washington was trailing 38-7 at the time, which is why head coach Dan Quinn has been criticized for leaving Daniels in when it was clear that the Commanders had lost the game. Daniels is expected to be sidelined for several games, but all hope might not be lost for 2025. Jayden Daniels has a chance to return this season Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Monday that X-rays on Daniels' arm came back negative. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury, but there is a chance Daniels could play again in 2025. Rapoport said the injury is "not as bad as it could've been." Daniels has battled numerous injuries in his second NFL season. He sat out in Week 8 because of a hamstring injury and missed time earlier this season with a sprained left knee. The Commanders fell to 3-6 with their 38-14 loss to the Seahawks. Even if Daniels is cleared to play later in the season, Washington might be out of playoff contention by then.
Cowboys Announce Exciting Development on Saturday
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys are 3-4-1 with a Week 9 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals on "Monday Night Football." They're looking to bounce back after losing to the Denver Broncos 44-24 last week. Prescott has been explosive through the first eight games. He has thrown for 2,069 yards, 16 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 101.6 passer rating while completing 70.3% of his passes. The Cowboys have put together one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, ranking second in total yards per game (384.1) and second in points per game (30.8). The unit may soon be getting reinforcement, including from center Cooper Beebe. Beebe started the first two games of the season for the Cowboys. However, he hasn't played since suffering a lateral ankle sprain and foot injury in Week 2 against the New York Giants. On Saturday, though, according to Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Beebe is on track to play against the Cardinals. "Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer says C Cooper Beebe is on track to play against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night," Harris reported. "Hasn’t played since week two when he suffered a lateral ankle sprain and foot injury." After being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he has become a consistent figure on Dallas' offensive line. As a rookie last season, he started 16 games, earning a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 65.4. Filling in for Beebe has been fourth-year veteran Brock Hoffman. He's recorded 415 snaps at center this year, committing two penalties and allowing one sack and ranking 29th out of 33 centers with a grade of 56.2. The Cowboys' offensive line has protected Prescott very well. They've allowed just 10 sacks, which is tied for the fourth-least in the NFL. Beebe's return could solidify one of the NFL's top offensive lines, giving Prescott more time and protection in the pocket. Kickoff between the Cowboys and Cardinals is 8:15 p.m. ET Monday at AT T Stadium, airing on ABC and ESPN.
Ryan Poles owes Bears fans after miss on early trade opportunity
No doubt Bears GM Ryan Poles will absorb more punishment in Bears social media from the fan base for not trading to acquire former Miami edge Jaelan Phillips when the asking price was a mere third-round pick. It looks like another missed opportunity because of Phillips' production this season, but even moreso because of where he eventually got traded on Monday. If Eagles GM Howie Roseman went after Phillips to help Vic Fangio's defense, there seems little doubt this is going to be a prime acquisition. Roseman moves almost always come up golden, it seems. Phillips' production this year includes three sacks, seven quarterback hits and 25 tackles. A third-round pick seems like a small price to pay for a player who has the third-best pass rush win rate in the NFL according and who Pro Football Focus credits with 32 pressures. The Bears paid $48 million for Dayo Odeyingbo and PFF has him with 10 pressures. Sure, Phillips' run defense hasn't been great and PFF confirms this by ranking him 93rd of 114 edge players stopping the run. But Odeyingbo was supposed to be a good run stopper, is only 91st stopping the run and is 83rd as a pass rusher. How is that working out for you at $48 million? Pass rush win rate is highly subjective, apparently. ESPN didn't even have Phillips among the top 20 in the league at pass rush win rate going into Sunday's games so it depends on the source. The thing about Phillips is he had an Achilles injury in 2023 and ACL in 2024. It usually takes a full season for a younger player to work through an Achilles tear to 100% health, an ACL less time. Before Phillips' injuries, he had seven sacks and 25 QB hits with eight tackles for loss in 2022. So, he definitely showed promise. Even for a first-round pick, this wasn't bad production at that point in his career. Given the progress players on the defensive line make by the fourth and fifth season, and the injury being in his past, this looks like a player blossoming and Roseman plucked him for only a third-round pick. The Bears obviously could have paid this much for him and Miami would have wanted to trade with them more because it's a pick that is going to come earlier in Round 3. What was Poles going to do with a third-round pick, anyway? Select another Velus Jones Jr. (gone), Zacch Pickens (gone) or Kiran Amegadjie (gone to IR)? Even with the possibility it was a rental player for the end of this year because they can't really afford next year to pay another big contract for a defensive end, it was a worthwhile acquisition based on Poles' abysmal failures picking both in the third round and on the defensive line. This is a player already producing like they hope Austin Booker can and like they hoped Dominique Robinson would but hasn't. Phillips was available at a bargain price because Miami is disintegrating. Phillips might not stay with the Eagles after this year but Roseman's record says he was worthwhile even if he doesn't, but he probably will if he succeeds. The Bears have missed what looks like a sure way to improve a pass rush obviously struggling when they're not playing the Cincinnatis of the football world. Poles is going to deserve the criticism he'll get. He needs to make a better move to make up for this.
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