Being the 49ers’ quarterback means big-time pressure is an unalienable reality. Heavy scrutiny isn’t an occupational hazard; it’s part of the job description.
Brock Purdy doesn’t have to be told that. He lives it every day.
But for reasons in and out of his control, that spotlight could turn even brighter this year.
Purdy can control delivering championship-level play that leaves no doubt he is the long-term focal point of the franchise.
What he can’t control is how the 49ers will react to yet another year of falling short.
Or the dominoes that could fall if Joe Burrow decides his patience with the Bengals has officially expired.
Multiple league sources have indicated that San Francisco is a team to watch if Burrow serves the Bengals with divorce papers. For the same reasons Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch made an earnest run at Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in 2021, some believe they would not hesitate to do the same if Burrow is available.
But more on that in a bit.
At the risk of being redundant, the 49ers have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations this year. It’s kind of an annual thing for this proud franchise.
But it’s been 31 years since they closed the deal. Purdy isn’t the root of San Francisco’s frustration; he’s just the latest face of it.
In a world in which close doesn’t cut it, if the 49ers come up short again, they will reevaluate everything. Eventually, they will have to ask themselves if Purdy is part of the solution or the problem.
And if they need to start looking for a better quarterback.
The 49ers have never been shy about being proactive at the most important position on the field, even when things are going well.
This is the franchise that traded for Steve Young when Joe Montana was on the roster.
They drafted Colin Kaepernick even with the highly capable Alex Smith in the fold, then handed the reins to Kaepernick after Smith suffered a concussion during the 2012 season.
Only the year before, Smith had delivered a 13-3 season and a berth in the NFC Championship game. He was 6-2-1 at the time he suffered the concussion.
It didn’t stop the 49ers from doing what they felt was best for their Super Bowl aspirations.
Jimmy Garoppolo was 38-17 with San Francisco, guided the 49ers to two NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl.
But that didn’t stop them from pursuing Stafford in 2021 or from trading up in that year’s draft to select Trey Lance third overall.
Jimmy G’s only sin was being an above-average quarterback when the 49ers needed a great one. He was also prone to injuries.
That brings us back to Purdy, who has been nothing short of terrific while making an unlikely climb from being the last pick in the 2022 draft to guiding the 49ers to a 30-15 record, NFC Championship game appearances in 2022 and 2023, and a berth in Super Bowl 58.
In the process, he secured a five-year, $265 million contract that makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks.
Those are cornerstone-cementing achievements.
But just ask Jared Goff what multiple playoff appearances, a Super Bowl berth and a big contract really mean when it comes to commitment.
The Rams weren’t actively seeking to trade Goff in 2021, but they also weren’t opposed to adding a better quarterback, either, if it meant nudging them closer to their ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.
The minute Stafford became available, the Rams pounced, using Goff as a centerpiece of a blockbuster trade offer that included two first-round picks and a third-rounder.
A few months later, a Rams team that had been knocking on the door with Goff kicked the damn thing in by winning the Super Bowl with Stafford.
Could similar circumstances lead Burrow to San Francisco?
Much like Stafford’s patience with the Lions eventually ran out and ultimately led him to ask for a trade, Burrow could reach his boiling point with the Bengals. And there has been just enough ice cracking in Cincinnati to suggest another lost season could lead Burrow to take a page out of Stafford’s playbook.
If that happens, and if Purdy and the 49ers don’t close the deal this season, the 49ers are a logical trade partner. In fact, Purdy could be the focal point of a hypothetical trade with the Bengals, along with a bunch of draft assets.
In a world in which Burrow puts maximum pressure on the Bengals, they could do a lot worse than getting a young, accomplished quarterback who is under contractual control through the 2030 season as part of a massive return.
Purdy will have plenty to say about all this, of course.
But the 49ers won’t hesitate to make a move if it means pushing them closer to their ultimate goal.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com
