Throughout this offseason, one of the biggest storylines around the San Francisco 49ers has been when quarterback Brock Purdy's contract extension would be finalized. Although some NFL fans doubted that Purdy would get an extension, it was clear the 49ers were set on extending him. Since taking over as the starter in 2022, Purdy has had the backing of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
Therefore, there was no possibility that they would let their guy leave. So, when it was announced last Friday that San Francisco gave Purdy a five-year $265 million contract extension fans 49ers fans weren't surprised.
That said, not every detail of Purdy's new contract was provided to the public when he signed on Friday. Instead, fans had to wait a few days to find out a few important details. On Sunday, it was revealed by Jordan Elliott of NBC Sports Bay Area that Purdy's contract includes a no-trade clause.
49ers Made a Mistake Including a No-Trade Clause in Brock Purdy's Contract
In the current NFL landscape, it's pretty common for a franchise quarterback to have a no-trade clause in his contract. For example, one of the 49ers' biggest historical rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, included a no-trade clause in Dak Prescott's contract.
These no-trade clauses are included in contracts for one of two reasons. First, the team includes it so the quarterback can't force his way out if the team is underperforming. But, the more common reason is that if the quarterback wants to be traded, he can choose his next team instead of being sent to the highest bidder.
In Purdy's case, the only realistic scenario in which the clause would come into effect would be the former. However, seeing as he was passed up by every other NFL team in the 2022 draft, it's hard to see him forcing his way out even if the 49ers are bad. That is why including the clause in his contract doesn't make much sense.
If things don't work out for Purdy now that he commands such a large percentage of the cap, San Francisco is trapped with no way to reset at the position.
Nevertheless, Purdy's story has been one of the best in the NFL over the past few seasons, and he definitely deserves the payday he got.