Reports are coming out of the Niners camp that former ‘Mr Irrelevant’ Brock Purdy could earn as much as $60 million per season from next year, which would be the same as league veteran, Dak Prescott’s annual average salary. And former Patriots QB Cam Newton has an interesting take on this.
Advertisement
On the 4th&1 podcast, Newton said that if he saw Purdy just for his skillset that he brings to the table, then he doesn’t deserve such a big payday. However, as someone who is a former player, he considers that amount life-changing and believes that since the market dynamics will dictate Purdy’s price, he should get that.
“Purdy has been playing great football and has shown the potential that he can play great football (ahead).
“But what we think about him personally, that’s none of our f*****g business outside of those little as two cents.
“….The market dictates him (Purdy) to make that kind of money…,” Newton was quoted as saying on the podcast.
When he compared Purdy to Prescott based on form and potential, Newton picked the former. Newton also reminded his fans that with the 49ers being a strong team, they wouldn’t mind retaining Purdy. Even if they had to pay such a big price for it.
“I can opinionate about it and so can other people…Would you rather have Dak Prescott or Brock Purdy?
“The 49ers ain’t no s***t team, but they don’t have the opportunity to buy another franchise quarterback,” Newton added.
Newton opined that Purdy was also better than Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray at the moment. However, he picked Jordan Love, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts over the 49ers QB. It’s mainly because Newton feels that hypothetically, with another team, Purdy might not fare as well.
So Newton seems to have a balanced view on Purdy as a player and his future. He is also aware of how the NFL system operates internally and how contracts are signed.
His discussion on the podcast could definitely trigger more debates on Purdy potentially earning that $60 million, which could make him match Prescott’s all-time record payout per season.
Does giving Purdy $60 million make sense?
Every quarterback needs a strong system around him to succeed. Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, and personal accolades like throwing for 5,000 yards mean little if the team keeps losing or underperforming in the playoffs.
If we evaluate quarterbacks purely by success in the playoffs, only Patrick Mahomes and Matt Stafford seem to justify their big-money contracts.
However, there are other quarterbacks in the league capable of elevating their game when it matters most—players whose teams would undoubtedly be worse off without them.
Purdy has proven he can step up and deliver in critical moments. Yet, like any quarterback, he relies on a healthy, cohesive team around him.
This season, his numbers have dipped, and inconsistency has crept in as Kyle Shanahan’s system has faltered. Purdy’s shortcomings have become more apparent, highlighting his dependency on the system and the team’s overall strength.
The Iowa State Alum doesn’t have the strongest arm, nor is he the tallest quarterback. What he has brought to the table, however, is his mobility, his ability to get the ball out on time, and his accuracy.
Purdy has understood his role within Kyle Shanahan’s system. And the 49ers have thrived thanks to those qualities—along with the advantage of him being on a rookie deal. That financial flexibility has allowed them to invest heavily in the playmakers around him.
Looking ahead, the 49ers need resources to rebuild Shanahan’s system. They have to improve their offensive line and continue investing in their defense. Handing Purdy a $60 million contract would jeopardize that effort and effectively close their Super Bowl window, which is already tightening.
The franchise hasn’t had much success drafting quarterbacks recently. With Purdy, they know exactly what they have and what they can expect going forward. At the end of the day, like Newton said, it’s the team and market dynamics which will decide that figure. Right now, it sits somewhere between $55 and $60 million.
