Dominick Puni’s 2024 NFL Draft selection may influence the 49ers’ decision to extend Brock Purdy’s contract.
It’s no secret that the San Francisco 49ers will probably have to pay Brock Purdy a lot more when he plays in 2025.
The quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Purdy, will become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL with a contract extension if he maintains the level of play he did in a stellar 2023 campaign.
The 49ers will have to part with some important players and find other ways to save money as a result.
At least in part, San Francisco’s 2024 draft strategy seemed to be focused on positioning the 49ers to handle any possible departures. The 49ers selected wide receiver Ricky Pearsall with the 31st overall pick; while rumors of Deebo Samuel or Brandon Aiyuk being traded as a result were unfounded, Pearsall’s selection and that of fourth-round pick Jacob Cowing might have been motivated by Samuel’s potential exit in 2025.
With starting cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir both eligible for free agency the following offseason, the 49ers’ selection of Renardo Green in the second round was a strong indication that they were drafting a year ahead of schedule.
Jake Brendel, the center, is not going to garner much notice in the future when compared to players like Samuel, Ward, and Lenoir. After a strong debut season as the starting center, Brendel received a four-year agreement last summer. However, the 49ers can save a little money by trading for him the next year.
With a $682k dead money charge, the 49ers could, in fact, designate Brendel as a post-June 1 cut in 2025 and save $3.76 million against the cap.
Making that kind of savings might not seem like much, especially considering that the cap is increasing each.
However, it is a savings that could prove to be very helpful, as the 49ers may need to strike a careful balance between keeping as many vital players as possible and paying Purdy a deal at the top of the market.
And Puni’s versatility—the 49ers think he has five-position talent at the next level—may help make it easier.
When asked where the 49ers saw him playing and what position he prefers, Puni said, “They saw me more as an interior,” during his post-draft press conference. Thus, guard, center, and your ability to assist inside. Address, in an emergency.
In 2022, I had an entire spring ball at center. Thus, I participated in every spring ball practice. I was able to play center at the Senior Bowl thanks to that as well. I had no trouble snapping the ball. I competed against the best in my college. Thus, I feel completely at ease with it.
Puni may be in a great position to take Brendel’s place as the long-term starter thanks to his comfort level at center. An offense’s success depends on the connection between the center and the quarterback, but since Puni has some experience in that capacity, the Niners might feel more comfortable moving from Brendel to him after he has a full season under his belt.
Puni’s best route to a long-term role on the O-Line may be at center, but in a perfect world, the 49ers would challenge veteran Jon Feliciano for the right guard position right out of the gate as a rookie. Puni’s versatility was his main selling point.
The 49ers would be able to acquire a substantially younger player (Puni will be 25) at a position of underappreciated importance and save some cash in an offseason where every penny matters when Brendel begins his 33rd season in 2025. Puni’s decision wasn’t particularly noteworthy, but it might be important if the Niners are able to maintain their delicate balance as Purdy’s deal gets even more demanding.
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