49ers free agency: Brock Purdy’s prospective backup role and future salary are highlighted
49ers free agency: A look at Brock Purdy’s potential backup role and compensation projections.
Rather of making any headlines during the first few hours of NFL free agency, the 49ers quietly worked behind the scenes on Monday morning.
However, every throw that the quarterback makes reverberates through the halls of Levi’s Stadium.
With Brandon Allen’s one-year contract extension, the 49ers were guaranteed a dependable backup quarterback in Brock Purdy’s absence. Allen may advance from his emergency No. 3 position in the quarterback depth chart.
Starting at 9 a.m. today, NFL free agency negotiations began. One of the quarterbacks free to consider a trade was Sam Darnold, the No. 2 pick from the previous season. According to Cousins’ agency, one possible destination would be the Minnesota Vikings, who lost starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons.
With Cousins’ departure, Purdy will be eligible for an extension past his meager rookie contract, so it’s wise to keep an eye on the four-year, $180 million contract that Cousins brought with him. Purdy’s salary is expected to be a meager $985,500 in 2024.
When the free agency window opened a year ago, Darnold quickly consented to a $4.5 million, one-year contract. Purdy had surgery on his throwing elbow three days prior, but he bounced back so nicely that he led the 49ers to the NFC Championship and even took the lead in overtime of the Super Bowl before losing to Kansas City in that match last month.
Although the 31-year-old Allen did not play a single snap in the regular season the previous year, he performed well enough in the preseason to earn a spot after the 49ers traded Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys. As a starter, Allen is 2-7 overall (1-2 with the Denver Broncos in 2019 and 1-4 with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020).
According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Allen and backup offensive guard Ben Bartch have decided to return on one-year contracts.
With 11 draft picks, the 49ers may select a different quarterback to challenge Purdy.
Ratification of contracts with outside free agents cannot happen before Wednesday at 1 p.m. The 49ers have a history of moving quickly once the negotiation window opened, swooping in to sign defensive tackle Javon Hargrave last year.
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