The 49ers have publicly said they want to commit fully to Brock Purdy, but what if contract talks break down and he's put on the trade block?
By all accounts, including those from the team itself, the San Francisco 49ers want and are optimistic about quarterback Brock Purdy remaining with the franchise as a well-paid centerpiece.
Recent comments from head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and even CEO Jed York have all pointed at the ongoing contract-extension talks progressing in the right direction, a far cry from the contemptuous negotiations that existed on previous conversations with other stars like wide receiver Deebo Samuel, defensive end Nick Bosa and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
The Niners' front office was reportedly upset with how those extensions for Samuel, Bosa and Aiyuk were handled, and a newfound cost-cutting campaign suggests they won't be anywhere near as lenient when it comes to caving to player demands.
Perhaps this includes Purdy now. Or maybe it doesn't. It's hard to say.
This is all hypothetical, of course. But, let's assume Purdy's camp demands contract terms San Francisco absolutely won't approach, leading to yet another standoff. The 49ers have leverage, including letting Purdy play out the final year of his current deal, plus the option of back-to-back franchise tags in 2026 and 2027.
Yet Purdy has leverage, too, particularly having saved the Niners millions in spend while playing at an MVP level, particularly in 2023 when he helped take San Francisco to the Super Bowl.
Of course, there's one way to end an impasse: trading Purdy.
While it seems oh-so unlikely, what would the 49ers be able to command in return if they ultimately made Purdy available for a trade heading into the 2025 NFL Draft?
