Back when he was drafted with the very last pick in 2022, Brock Purdy’s NFL future seemed like a trivia answer, not a franchise cornerstone. Three years and a Super Bowl appearance later, the conversation has flipped. No longer “Mr. Irrelevant,” Purdy now finds himself at the center of contract talks that could catapult him into elite company—and all while quietly showing up to work without drama, even as other quarterbacks rake in mega money.

There are 10 quarterbacks who currently have an AAV of $50 million or more. The highest-paid QB is Cowboys signal caller Dak Prescott at $60 million AAV (4 years, $240 million), while the 10th is Super Bowl LIX winner and Eagles QB Jalen Hurts with $51 million AAV (5 years, $255 million). Joining that elite race is the 49ers’ unlikely leader since 2022, Brock Purdy. Signed to a bargain 4-year, $3.7 million rookie deal, Purdy is now reportedly set to cash in. And although he’s wanted talks kept private, the details are beginning to spill out.

According to NFL rumors, the Niners are aiming to sign Purdy to a deal in the $50 million AAV range. On May 5, The Athletic’s Mike Jones reported, “It now seems like a matter of when, not if, Purdy gets paid. (The 49ers) have been trying to work out a deal that gives the quarterback long-term security and also avoids any holdouts this summer or early season.”

If finalized at $50M annually, Purdy would become the 11th highest-paid QB in the league. Despite the buzz, Purdy continues to attend voluntary offseason activities and hasn’t shown signs of holding out—unlike many others in his position. Still, the 49ers did stir debate recently by locking in George Kittle to a record-breaking 4-year, $76.4 million extension ($19.1M AAV, above Cardinals TE Trey McBride‘s $19 million AAV), making him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history.

That move led to speculation that the front office might hesitate to give Purdy his bag. Yet, reports suggest the opposite: that the Niners are doing what they can to secure their breakout QB without dragging things into the summer.

49ers GM hopeful of signing Brock Purdy extension soon

There has been endless discussion and analyst speculation on the value of Purdy’s upcoming contract. On the May 5 episode of Chris Simms Unbuttoned, 49ers GM John Lynch offered an update: “We’re having really good, positive discussions. When it gets done, I’m not sure. Hope sooner rather than later, but hope is not a strategy. So, we’re making progress.”

That’s about as optimistic as it gets in contract-speak. Still, fans are watching the clock tick. Memories of last year’s CeeDee Lamb holdout with the Cowboys—where the WR skipped team activities until he got paid—linger fresh in the minds of front offices and fanbases alike.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the number could end up higher. Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Florio said, “I’m thinking it’s going to be $55.1 million annually, which would put him ahead of everyone but Dak Prescott and (soon) Josh Allen.” That projection would make Purdy the third-highest-paid QB in the NFL by AAV, leapfrogging Joe Burrow ($55M), Justin Herbert ($52.5M), and Hurts.

For now, it’s a waiting game. What will it be? $50 million? $55 million? $55.1 million? If Florio’s prediction comes true and Purdy lands a $55.1M AAV deal, he’ll be in rarefied air—especially considering where his story began.