The Clark family doesn’t seem to have the best of luck when it comes to the NFL Draft. Like his father in 2002, Jordan Clark earned himself the title of being an undrafted free agent in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the misfortune didn’t last very long.
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Within a day post-draft, Jordan was the proud recipient of a UDFA contract courtesy of the New York Jets. With a 2024 base salary of $840,000, the contract will earn him more than $2.9 million throughout his first three seasons in the league.
While the deal is certainly a cause for celebration for the Notre Dame product and his family, some are citing it to highlight the San Francisco 49ers’ gross mistreatment of Brock Purdy. Despite a Super Bowl appearance and 23-13 starting record, Purdy is currently averaging a yearly salary of $934,252.
Jordan’s three-year average salary works out to $995,000. So, Purdy is quite literally being paid less than undrafted free agents. This is not a good look for San Francisco, given the ongoing nature of their discussions with the former pro-bowler.
Purdy’s case looks bleak considering that the 49ers recently made George Kittle the highest-paid tight end in NFL history. So there’s no guarantee that Purdy will see the sizable pay increase that he may have been hoping for.
A four-year deal featuring $40 million worth of incentives will ensure Kittle’s presence as a safety blanket for the 49ers’ signal caller, whoever that might be. With the signing announced right in the middle of Purdy’s attempt to reach a deal of his own, it’s worth wondering if some of Kittle’s paycheck will ultimately come out of Purdy’s pocket.
There’s also the added presence of Kurtis Rourke, quarterback from Indiana, who San Francisco took with the 227th overall pick in this year’s draft. At the very least, Rourke ensures that the team has some semblance of a prospect should Purdy refuse to sign.
Nevertheless, even if the 49ers and Purdy come to an agreement, they’ll still have to hope for a much healthier roster in 2025. Christian McCaffrey is reported to be entering the season with no restrictions, but it remains to be seen whether or not he’ll be a viable runner at this point in his career.
The Niners are desperately trying to extend their title window. If they hope to be successful in doing so, they’ll need a bit of cooperation from both Purdy and the injury bug. Two things that seem increasingly uncommon as the offseason carries on.
