“You Have No Choice”: Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson Argue About Brock Purdy Reportedly Seeking a $50M Contract

The San Francisco 49ers have not officially been eliminated from postseason contention yet, but have practically no chance of making the playoffs. And their struggles have come in tandem with immense injury woes, including quarterback Brock Purdy. However, even when healthy, he hasn’t been able to elevate San Francisco to victories. That has made Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson question Purdy’s standing to seek what has been reported as a $50-$60 million per year contract extension.

Sharpe said he wouldn’t give Purdy “nowhere near $50 million”, while Johnson said the 49ers may have no choice but to meet his demands.

“They might have no choice but to pay Purdy. [If] you don’t want to pay him what he’s worth – or what the market says he should be paid… you have no one to replace him. You have no choice,” said Chad on Nightcap.

Sharpe and Johnson both cited recently signed NFL QB contracts as benchmark in their arguments. In the end, Sharpe appeared to pull Johnson to his side.

Sharpe: “I’d give [Purdy] $35-$40 million”

There are currently nine NFL quarterbacks making more than $50 million in annual salary. Over the past three years, Purdy has made less than them and essentially every other signal-caller. This season, with a $925,000 yearly pay-check, he’s the 84th highest-paid quarterback in the league. To say he’s underpaid would be an understatement.

Purdy, to a degree, probably wants his next contract to make up for some of his lost earnings. The NFL doesn’t really work that way though. It’s a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ business.

And lately, Purdy has not played at a level worthy of a $50 million per-year pay package. This is why Sharpe told Johnson he would “give [Purdy] $35-$40 million”. That annual value would put him in the mid-teens of quarterback deals, alongside Matthew Stafford ($40 million) and Aaron Rodgers ($37.5 million).

Johnson compared San Francisco’s situation to that of the New York Giants signing Daniel Jones in 2023. New York felt there wasn’t a better alternative and spent on him. They benched and cut him this November.

Could something similar happen to Purdy? Nobody can say for sure. What’s certain is that Brock, on his best day, is considered a high-end game manager. Does that description sound more like Jones or Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow? The answer is obvious, which is why Sharpe thinks the 49ers should not meet Purdy’s apparent asking price.

“Put him on the [franchise tag] for two years. Let him bet [on himself]… What did Tampa [Bay] pay Baker Mayfield?” said Sharpe.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers inked Mayfield to a three-year, $100 million contract extension last offseason after giving him a one-year, $4 million deal in 2023. They let Mayfield prove himself before handing him a nice contract. The Bucs showed it’s possible to find great quarterback play without paying someone $50 million simply because they’re “next up”.

San Francisco hasn’t managed to win a Super Bowl with Purdy making minimal dough on a loaded roster. Paying him $50 million — and sacrificing some of their other stars in the process — doesn’t seem like a winning strategy.

If they go that route, they may find themselves resembling the Giants and fighting for the No. 1 pick before they’re championship contenders again.