SANTA CLARA, CA – The San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy have not yet made long-term contract extensions. But it doesn’t move anything pure from the team as it launches an offseason training program.
In a Niners report on the launch of the offseason program on Tuesday, Purdy is part of a group of players taking part in voluntary activities, sources told ESPN’s Adam Shefater. Linebacker Fred Warner is still on two more seasons and is present, although he may be in line for an extension.
Also, one of the Niners who is seeking a new contract that is not at the team facility on Tuesday is tight end George Kittle, who will enter the final year of the contract he signed in 2020. Kittle told ESPN he didn’t want to sign an extension that would allow him to retire as NINER.
Meanwhile, the 49ers and Purdy have signed contracts for most of the offseason and are trying to keep Purdy as a long-term franchise quarterback. He is expected to enter his fourth year in the league. This is the first time Purdy has qualified for an extension.
After the season, Purdy showed that ideally prefers to trade before the start of the offseason program. At a league meeting in Palm Beach last month, general manager John Lynch showed that it is at least a possibility.
“I don’t think I’m too optimistic [to get it done by then]”Lynch said, “I think you understand why Brock wants it. We want it so much, so we just have to find the right place for both sides and I don’t love anything more to do that.”
The Accord hasn’t yet come to fruition, but Purdy’s presence at the start of the spontaneous portion of the offseason shows, at least, that negotiations are not being condemned.
Purdy is expected to make $5 million in the final year of his rookie contract and is believed to be seeking a deal that could raise his yearly sal to more than $50 million per season.
Kittle is in the final year of his five-year, $75 million extension that he signed in 2020. He is expected to count $22,085,000 against his 2025 salary cap. His contract also includes invalid years until 2028, until he was a cap hit of over $13 million in 2026 after the contract ended.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Treymac Bride has recently signed a four-year extension of average $19 million per season, so Kittle is currently the fourth-highest paid tight end on average annual salary.
Kittle told ESPN after the season that he didn’t want to go anywhere.
“My goal is to wear red and gold for my entire career,” Kittle said.
At the NFL Combine in February, Lynch said the Niners hopes Kittle will end his San Francisco career, but he also showed that other businesses are likely to take the lead.
The 49ers will begin their OTA on May 27th, but the first essential offseason activity will not be until mini-camping June 10th-11th.
