Puka Nacua predicts 49ers' Super Bowl 'window closes' with Brock Purdy extension
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are bitter, in-state and intradivisional rivals, but that didn't stop one Rams player from giving the 49ers an unsolicited piece of advice.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is set to receive a significant pay raise from his team, and Los Angeles wide receiver Puka Nacua had some strong opinions on what the value of the contract should look like.
Nacua joined former NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman on the latter's podcast, "Games With Names," and shared his thoughts on what the value of Purdy's upcoming contract should be: somewhere around $45 million per year, and definitely less than $50 million average annual value.
If Purdy were to agree to a contract extension below his market value – 12 quarterbacks make more than $45 million per year on their current deals, many of whom haven't played in a Super Bowl – the 49ers would have enough cap space to invest elsewhere in their roster.
But if Purdy were to sign a higher value contract, Nacua believes it could doom the 49ers long-term.
"I think he seems like a smart guy," Nacua said of Purdy. "They (the 49ers) have a chance to still be in their (Super Bowl-contending) window. And I think if he goes for a 5 [$50 million-plus per year], then the window closes."
Purdy, who was the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has been playing on a salary of fewer than $1 million for each of his first three seasons. After Year 3, he's finally allowed to negotiate with his team on a contract extension, and given his success, Purdy is in a good position to get a massive one.
In his first three seasons with the 49ers, Purdy has compiled a 27-15 record as a starter – including a 4-2 record in the postseason. His career completion percentage sits at 67.5%, and he has 9,518 passing yards, 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in 40 career games.
San Francisco went 6-11 in 2024 as an injury bug swept through their roster and held back some of their biggest stars. The 49ers hold the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which starts next Thursday.