Brock Purdy ranks seventh in QBR, and while some bumps in the road have formed for Kyle Shanahan‘s quick study, he remains on steady ground months after going toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LVIII. The 49ers have Purdy tied to rookie-deal money through season’s end and then an interesting decision will loom. With Dak Prescott raising the market (thanks to unique leverage) to $60MM per year, Purdy will be in line for a high-end deal — even if it does not eclipse the Cowboys passer’s. As we heard in May, connections about a lower-cost plan continue to take place around the league.
Execs are still discussing the prospect of Shanahan reuniting with Kirk Cousins via 2025 trade, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora. This would stand to be a fallback option in the event Purdy negotiations run too hot for San Francisco’s liking, but swapping out a soon-to-be 25-year-old arm for a player who will turn 37 in 2025 would still be a massive risk. Shanahan was Cousins’ first NFL OC, though Jay Gruden was in charge when the now-longtime starter received his first extended QB1 run. The 49ers were prepared to offer their No. 2 overall pick to Washington in 2017 for Cousins, but they committed to Jimmy Garoppolo before his free agency a year later. This reunion seems unlikely, though a GM told La Canfora in a separate piece he does expect the current Falcons starter to be traded next year.
An October report revealed skepticism in some NFL corners the Falcons will sit Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons, calling Cousins’ post-2024 future into question. For now, Cousins remains in Atlanta on a contract that includes a $100MM practical guarantee. Even if the 49ers do not wish to part with Purdy, another offseason of Cousins rumors appears certain for 2025. Here is the latest from the NFC West:
- The 49ers have made a few splashy trades before past deadlines, acquiring Garoppolo, Emmanuel Sanders and Chase Young during the Shanahan-John Lynch regime’s run. The eighth-year HC said (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch) no similar possibilities emerged this year. The 49ers did make a minor addition, adding defensive tackle Khalil Davis from the Texans to join fellow Houston-to-San Francisco DT Maliek Collins. Shanahan also classified not being better prepared for injuries at safety a “huge risk,” given Talanoa Hufanga‘s situation, but Tashaun Gipson did rejoin the team via a practice squad deal hours after the deadline. Tearing an ACL in 2023, Hufanga is uncertain to return this season due to a wrist injury.
- On the subject of NFC West safeties, Budda Baker looks to have a path to stay in Arizona after his contract expires. Some around the league view the prospect of a third Baker-Cardinals contract as realistic, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The perennial Pro Bowler asked out of Arizona during the 2023 offseason and only received incentives to stay. Baker’s contract expires at season’s end, and he will be 29 by free agency, opening the door to a lucrative third contract. The safety market has been hot and cold in recent years, but if the Cardinals want to retain Baker, an upper-crust contract should be required. Now that Arizona has taken steps forward, Baker certainly could fit into the team’s long-term plans. He has expressed interest in sticking around long term.
- The Cardinals have been using in-season pickup Chad Ryland at kicker, but Matt Prater‘s injury is not viewed as season-ending. Jonathan Gannon expects (via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban) the Cardinals to have their 40-year-old regular kicker back at some point. Prater is down with a left knee injury, which has cost him six games.
- Bailing on both their top linebacker options by the midpoint, the Seahawks have some reorganizing to do coming out of their bye. After trading Jerome Baker to the Titans for Ernest Jones, the Hawks waived Tyrel Dodson. Seattle’s free agency plan of Baker and Dodson is out, and Mike Macdonald said (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson) rookie Tyrice Knight is the lead candidate to play alongside Jones. Seattle drafted Knight in Round 4; Dodson is heading to Miami via waiver claim.
If they trade Cousins before the draft, they’ll take a dead cap hit of over $60 million while only saving a few million. Unless the haul for Cousins is bigger than I’d expect or they’re extremely confident Penix is a better option immediately, I don’t get why they would bother. This is part of why I thought the Penix pick was unwise. Setting aside the consensus reach for an older prospect with a mixed track record and serious injury history, there’s no way for them to actually get an inexpensive QB room out of this until at least year three (which will also carry some Cousins money even if he’s gone). So Penix has to really turn out to be franchise caliber to justify the bet.
Yes, and while Cousins is playing well and the Falcons are in a good spot overall to win the South, you have to wonder why San Fran would swap Purdy for a player 12 years his senior.
I’m sure that Cousins would be great in San Francisco, but Purdy is pretty well suited for that role and has already been to a Super Bowl in the last few years. Cousins’ age and recent injury could cause a drop off any time in the next couple of years, so unless San Fran is prepared to take a gamble on another successor passer in that time, it makes more sense to stick with Purdy.
I get why people think Cousins could be an emergency option, but that couldn’t even be realistic for another two years. The cap hit and cost of acquisition are just too high.
Trade Rumors is supposed to report Rumors swirling around. I think they’ve been dipping their toes in the ‘we create Rumors’ pool for quite awhile now…Kidding kidding lol (kinda)
So Seattle realized that their off season moves didn’t work and they moved on?
I’m used to them throwing more money at players that don’t fit.
Maybe this new regime is a little smarter than the old one.
Well, Schneider has roster control now. The way that players perform in practice probably influences him less then how they show up on payroll.
Budda Baker is a stud. Best safety in football. That is all. Carry on.
I’m impressed that it only took 45 years for the Cardinals to find a safety with the talent to match HOFer Larry Wilson.
Not sure how much you know about the Cards but they’ve had a bunch of great safeties. You mentioned Larry Wilson.
Tim McDonald was great,
Pat Tillman was on that path. Made all pro. Established franchise record for tackles at the time. Played reckless. Would’ve been up there.
Kwamie Lassiter was fun to watch. Stud. Led that 98 team to the playoffs. Beat the cowboys.
Adrian Wilson should be in the HOF
Budda Baker probably will be in the HOF
That’s not a shabby list whatsoever