NFL Exec: Brock Purdy "Is Not in That 'Dude' Category" Ahead of 49ers Contract Talks

The debate over whether quarterback Brock Purdy is the guy for the San Francisco 49ers continues to rage on as he inches toward his free agency in 2026.

"It's about being a guy being a dude, and Purdy is not in that 'dude' category," an NFL team executive said to The Athletic's Mike Sando.

Still, Sando reported the general belief around the league is that the Niners and Purdy will hammer out an extension before the 2025 season kicks off.

"When you have a head coach that has the vision, you know what it is going to look like in the future," a different executive said. "Having the quarterback signed adds to the predictability. You are able to navigate. A lot of other things fall into place, and you can continue to build it as the cap increases."

Sando explained the contract-related concerns aren't necessarily about Purdy as a player.

General manager John Lynch has made a number of win-now moves that collectively carry a big long-term cost. In the case of the Trey Lance trade, the Niners gave up three first-rounders and ultimately got little in return with Lance making just eight starts for the team.

Now, San Francisco has a roster that's only getting older and lacks the reinforcements to eventually replace the aging stars. And imagine the kind of bind Lynch will be in if Purdy is making $50 million-plus annually instead of the $985,000 salary he has now.

This probably isn't the best time to argue over Purdy's merits to qualify as an elite quarterback. He threw for 212 yards and three interceptions in a 28-18 loss to the Kansas Chiefs, which was an uncharacteristically poor performance.

Ultimately, the Niners will probably give him a long-term extension because the challenge of finding a replacement who's as good or better is much tougher than navigating around the salary cap with a high-level QB you trust.

Either way, Lynch is bound to find himself in a difficult position.