The San Francisco 49ers are trying to extend Brock Purdy after losing many key players in free agency. Could they be better off trading him and rebuilding around a younger, cheaper quarterback?
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been searching for a franchise quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired. They have the 21st pick in the draft and Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn pitched the idea of trading that pick to the 49ers for Purdy.
“Remember, Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft,” wrote Cohn. “Pickett was the first quarterback taken. The Steelers whiffed big time. Now, they can fix that mistake by trading their first-round pick, No. 21, to the 49ers for Purdy and signing him to a long-term extension. The Steelers are desperate for stability at the position after having none since Ben Roethlisberger retired in 2021. And the 49ers don’t seem eager to give Brock Purdy a contract that’s worth more than $50 million per season on average. The 49ers have thrived when their starting quarterback is cheap. That’s their formula for success. It allows them to spend lots of money on other players.”
Cohn suggested the 49ers could draft Shedeur Sanders if he drops to the 11th overall pick, which is highly unlikely. The 49ers signed Mac Jones to a two-year deal and could plug him in as the starter. Just last season, Sam Darnold stepped into a quarterback-friendly offense and thrived. Jones could do the same in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Steelers could forget about Aaron Rodgers and land their quarterback for the future.
The 49ers would be able to commit to a rebuild, starting with two first-round picks this year. While Jones plays quarterback, the 49ers could look to rebuild their roster and potentially compete with him.
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