The San Francisco 49ers have an enormous decision to make about starting quarterback Brock Purdy.
For the first three seasons of his career, Purdy was a cheat code–a quarterback producing Pro Bowl numbers on a backup’s salary. But if they want to keep him as their long-term starter, San Francisco will have to pay him like one moving forward.
Though he is still under contract for one more season (estimated at $5 million by Spotrac), Purdy is now eligible for an extension. If San Francisco chooses not to give him one, they’re effectively tipping their hand that they don’t foresee him sticking around after 2025.
Purdy has phenomenal stats through three seasons, but he doesn’t have game-changing talent. If the 49ers pay him $50 million-plus per season, they may have their hands full trying to keep the offense stocked with top-tier players around him.
Recently, FanSided’s Scott Conrad proposed an alternative starter for the 2025 season if the 49ers don’t want to pay Purdy: Cleveland Browns fill-in starter Jameis Winston.
“If Purdy is not the answer, Winston can provide a few solutions for the 49ers,” Conrad wrote.
“The former Florida State Seminole could be the spark plug to re-energize the 49ers offense. San Francisco wouldn’t have to spend an arm and a leg on Winston to get him, either.”
Bringing in Winston to be the starter at this point in his career is certainly an audacious play, but his cost is likely so low that he could likely be added as a backup even if Purdy stays. And if the 49ers choose to move on from Purdy either this year or next, they could grab two lottery tickets like Winston at the quarterback position.
Winston is far from perfect, and there’s no perfect solution to the Purdy conundrum for San Francisco. But bringing an experienced former starter into the picture regardless of how else they choose to act could prove wise for the 49ers.
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