What does the future hold for the San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy?

The 2024 season was disastrous for the 49ers as a whole, as the team finished last in the NFC West at 6-11, just a year shy of a Super Bowl appearance.

While Purdy wasn’t bad by any means in year three, he wasn’t able to handle the load despite serious injuries on the offensive side. With him now eligible for an extension and entering the final year of his incredibly cheap rookie contract, San Francisco must begin the process of deciding his future with the club.

The 49ers had Sam Darnold on their roster as Purdy’s replacement in 2023, but the former New York Jets first-round pick broke out as a starter with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. As a free agent, Darnold will be looking for a long-term starting opportunity, whether in Minnesota or elsewhere.

On Wednesday, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport raised a surprising possibility: Could the 49ers actually abandon Purdy in favor of Darnold as the starter this offseason?

“In 2024, Purdy lost some of its luster,” Davenport wrote. “Of course injuries played a role, but Darnold outperformed Purdy in almost every statistical category last year. Darnold wants a big raise, but his annual salary will be more in the Baker-Mayfield range than Kyler Murray’s.”

“Darnold knows the system in San Francisco from his short time there. Trade offers from QB-needy teams for Purdy would be solid. And it’s not like we’ve never seen the Niners make an aggressive move at quarterback before.”

Darnold is expected to receive a four-year, $160 million contract with Spotrac. That may sound like a huge expense, but the same website projects Purdy to be $238 million over four years, so choosing Darnold would save them nearly $20 million annually.

At this point it doesn’t seem likely that it will happen, but Davenport seems to be hinting at the idea that maybe it should.

The 49ers have learned in 2024 that if Purdy doesn’t have the full complement of weapons, everything can fall apart. If they sign him long-term, they may never be able to afford such a stacked arsenal again.

More NFL: 49ers’ blockbuster trade idea would bring the Bears a star receiver worth $110 million