NFC West

It sounds like San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is getting a new contract this offseason.

"I know we want Brock to be here for a long time and we'll do everything we can to make that work," 49ers owner Jed York said, per Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. York also revealed he met with Purdy's agent, Kyle Strongin, to discuss the quarterback's contract situation.

To call Purdy a bargain for the team at this point of his career would be an understatement.

He was the last pick of the 2022 NFL draft and made fewer than $1 million in each of his first three seasons in the league. The 2025 campaign will be the final one on his current deal, and he is in line for a raise of $5.3 million in base salary because of the NFL's proven performance escalator that he earned by making last season's Pro Bowl.

Having a starting quarterback on that small of a contract allowed the 49ers to surround him with a talented roster, which is one reason they made the NFC Championship Game in his first season and Super Bowl in his second one.

Yet injuries played a role in this past season's results as San Francisco went 6-11 and finished in last place in the NFC West.

Attention now turns to an important offseason that has already included a Deebo Samuel trade request and early negotiating for Purdy. Even with 2024's disappointing result, he is in line for a significant new extension that Dubow noted could pay him more than $50 million a year.

Brock Purdy pump fakes and runs it in for the TD!

📺: #DETvsSF on ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/0kUyoHp6KF

— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2024

There is certainly an element of risk involved in giving Purdy that type of deal.

After all, it will eat into the team's salary cap and limit its ability to surround him with as many talented pieces. What's more, there has to be some thought given to how much of a product of his own environment Purdy has been given the talent and coaching in place in San Francisco.

Still, it is hard to argue with a signal-caller who went from being the final pick of the draft to an NFC champion in his first full season of starting.

The 49ers' front office and Purdy's representation seem to be making progress toward a new contract, and York's comments suggested it will happen at some point this offseason.

San Francisco 49ers wideout Deebo Samuel confirmed Sunday that the team has given him permission to seek a trade. But his time with the organization is likely over even if such a deal doesn't materialize.

As Albert Breer of SI.com reported Monday, the Niners "could cut him if the right offer doesn't come along, with Brandon Aiyuk now signed long-term and the team's 2024 first-round pick, Ricky Pearsall, having already flashed his potential."

That would be a shocking time to Samuel's end in San Francisco, though as Breer noted, "his injury history, declining production, contract status (with a big, non-guaranteed number for next year, and his contract expiring after that), and San Francisco's depth of investment at the position made the former first-team All-Pro the most logical first piece to move."

The Niners are going to get a lot more expensive once Brock Purdy signs a long-term extension. In many ways, Christian McCaffrey's versatility in the pass and run game has taken away some of Samuel's importance to the team's offense. The Niners have solid options at wideout and a tight end in George Kittle who was fantastic in 2024. There are a lot of mouths to feed, both from a salary and touches perspective.

So the 29-year-old Samuel—who had a down year in 2024, catching 51 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 136 yards and a score in 15 games, despite Aiyuk and McCaffrey missing significant time due to injuries—is the odd man out.

No good deed goes unpunished.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter he has requested a trade from the team. Schefter reported the Niners have allowed him and his agent to explore any deals.

Granting his wish and trading the 2021 All-Pro before June 1 will be costly for San Francisco since it would trigger a dead money hit of almost $31.6 million for the 2025 season. That would be added to the $16.6 million the team has set aside for players no longer on the roster. Defensive end Arik Armstead ($15.5 million) accounts for the biggest chunk of the total.

Here's rest of Deebo Samuel's contract.

-$15.4m option due on March 22 prorates to $3.086m over 5 years vs cap. SF would save that with trade
-Rest of the signing and option prorations total $31.5m. 49ers have already paid them out and will owe that vs cap regardless pic.twitter.com/7eYw6WhPoo

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) February 9, 2025

Whoever acquires Samuel, meanwhile, will be on the hook for his $17.5 million in salary earnings, though that's all non-guaranteed. Even though the 29-year-old is coming off a lackluster campaign, that's not a massive sum when elite wideouts are averaging $30 million annually.

If the Niners were focused primarily on the salary cap, then holding off a trade until June 2 or later would be the sensible course of action. In that situation, they'd spread his dead money across 2025 ($10.6 million) and 2026 ($20.4 millIon) and actually get $5.2 million in savings.

But general manager John Lynch will presumably want to get something done before the draft so he can immediately utilize the compensation he'll get for the star pass-catcher. This will become a bigger and bigger distraction the longer it carries into the offseason, too, thus raising the likelihood a resolution arrives before ahead of when the 2025 NFL draft starts on April 24.

Deebo Samuel has never played for an NFL team outside of the San Francisco 49ers, but that might change for the 2025 campaign.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday the NFC West team gave the wide receiver permission to seek a trade after Samuel requested one during his exit meeting following the 2024 season.

"It was a hard conversation to have with Kyle (Shanahan) because of the relationship that we have," Samuel said. "But I have to do what's best. I'm more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but now I think it's best that we find another team."

🙏🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/TojTZov8qD

— Deebo (@19problemz) February 9, 2025

This comes after NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported San Francisco was "expected to explore trading" the 2019 second-round pick and that "both sides appear to be at peace with moving on if it goes that way."

Samuel also made headlines in December when he said in a since-deleted social-media post, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com, "Not struggling at all, just not getting the ball!"

He also said, "You read what you read. [I'm] a little frustrated for sure."

Samuel has been with the 49ers since they drafted him in 2019, and he helped lead the team to two Super Bowls during his tenure. However, this past season was a disappointing one, as the team went 6-11 and finished in last place in the division.

He also tallied 51 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns as his numbers dropped across the board from his 60 catches for 892 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2023 campaign. His career-best season came when he was a Pro Bowler in 2021 with 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns in addition to 365 yards and eight scores on the ground as a rusher.

DEEBO SAMUEL BREAKS AWAY FOR THE 76-YARD TD.#SFvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/NnDR0UqBlv

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2024

From San Francisco's perspective, it surely would have preferred to see better production since Brandon Aiyuk was limited to just seven games in 2024.

It also might have taken steps toward life after Samuel by signing Aiyuk to an extension and drafting Ricky Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft ahead of the most recent campaign.

Yet a potential Samuel trade means another team will have the chance to land an impact receiver who is still just 29 years old. He can impact the game as a pass-catcher or runner and may be motivated to further prove himself with a change of scenery.

Expect Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks to work through a contract extension this offseason, with the veteran quarterback currently set to be a free agency after the 2025 season.

According to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, "The Seahawks have said nothing to dissuade the impression they're all-in on Smith," adding that the team "likely will address his deal."

An extension could also provide some cap relief in 2025, with Smith set to make $31 million in total (including a $16 million roster bonus) and a cap number at $44.5 million.

The 34-year-old threw for 4,320 yards, 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2024, completing 70.4 percent of his passes while taking 50 sacks. The Seahawks went 10-7 and narrowly missed the playoffs, and the team is now 27-22 in Smith's three full seasons as the starting quarterback.

His play, while a bit up-and-down in 2024, has remained strong enough that his head coach, Mike MacDonald, offered him an endorsement on Friday.

"Heck yeah, man. Geno is our quarterback," he told FOX 13's Aaron Levine.

"I don't understand the conversation," he continued. "It's pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback. He's our quarterback. We love him. Can't wait to go to work with him."

The San Francisco 49ers have opened contract negotiations with representatives for quarterback Brock Purdy and are aiming to have a deal completed "soon," according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini.

"This was always the plan," Russini reported. "The Niners have never wavered on Purdy as their franchise quarterback, not after his breakout run, not after leading them to a Super Bowl, and definitely not now after a disappointing 2024 season."

Niners linebacker Fred Warner offered a strong endorsement of Purdy during Super Bowl week, telling Russini the 25-year-old signal-caller shares multiple traits with elite QBs:

Fred Warner has played against the best quarterbacks the NFL has to offer.

He'd stack up Brock Purdy with the elites of the game.

"He's THE guy."

My conversation with the 49ers' star LB:https://t.co/UZAIHqD0U0 pic.twitter.com/Wq7voQcErw

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) February 6, 2025

In addition to San Francisco going 6-11 and missing the playoffs, Purdy's performance went backwards a bit in 2024. He threw for fewer yards (3,864) and touchdowns (20) than in 2023, and his completion percentage went from 69.4 to 65.9.

Still, Russini's report left little room for doubt as to the Niners' long-term belief in his abilities.

But extending Purdy means he'll go from being the biggest bargain in the NFL to significantly limiting the organization's financial flexibility. The 2023 Pro Bowler is due to earn $5.3 million in the final year of his rookie contract, and Spotrac projects his value at $59.7 million annually.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Saturday there's a belief from some around the league that a $55 million salary is more than fair in the present market based on what Purdy has done. Others, however, said the 49ers can play hardball since they could theoretically use the franchise tag on him in 2026 and 2027.

There's some risk with that approach, though, because it could mean San Francisco winds up paying just as much money, if not more, overall than it would by simply giving him an extension now.

The Dallas Cowboys let Dak Prescott play out the 2020 season on the franchise tag, so he got $31.4 million guaranteed for that season before hitting the market all over again. The Cowboys handed him a four-year, $160 million extension,

Years before that, the Washington Commanders had Kirk Cousins on the franchise tag for 2016 and 2017, and that created a situation where he was basically too expensive to re-sign in 2018.

The other incentive for getting a multiyear extension with Purdy done now instead of next offseason is that his salary will look less and less burdensome as more quarterbacks get paid.

Josh Allen became the second-highest-paid QB when he got an extension averaging $43 million annually in 2021. Now, that figure is only good enough to put him 14th at the position.

A $55 million payout to Purdy every season wouldn't look too bad in a few years.

All signs are reportedly pointing toward Matthew Stafford still being under center for the Los Angeles Rams during the 2025 season.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that the 37-year-old "intends to play … with his arm and body feeling good after a solid season that saw him lead the Rams to the playoffs."

What's more, "the Rams would welcome him back."

However, the contract may be something both sides have to work through before he takes the field.

Pelissero and Rapoport explained it is "unlikely that Stafford would play for just $27 million in 2025 after playing for $40 million last year." They also noted the veteran is expected to be "reasonable," though, during potential negotiations.

It comes as no surprise that Los Angeles wants him back, as it has enjoyed three playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in Stafford's four years as the starting quarterback. The 2022 season was the only time it didn't make the playoffs during that tenure, and that was the year injuries limited Stafford to just nine games.

The 2023 Pro Bowler was solid again this past season as he went 10-6 as a starter while completing 65.8 percent of his passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Everything likely won't look the same for Stafford in 2025 if and when he does return, as one of his most reliable targets in Los Angeles could be on the way out. After all,Cooper Kupp took to social media Monday and revealed the Rams are looking to trade him this offseason even though he doesn't "agree with the decision."

I was informed that the team will be seeking a trade immediately and will be working with me and my family to find the right place to continue competing for championships. I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in LA.

Still, if there’s… pic.twitter.com/XWmbGVscGy

— Cooper Kupp (@CooperKupp) February 4, 2025

Such a move would put more on Puka Nacua's shoulders as the No. 1 option in the aerial attack next season.

At least it appears Nacua will have some continuity at quarterback with Stafford set to return.

The San Francisco 49ers "are expected to explore trading" wide receiver Deebo Samuel, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

"While it's not a certainty that Samuel is done in San Francisco, it's enough of a possibility that both sides appear to be at peace with moving on if it goes that way," Rapoport said.

The 2021 All-Pro watched his production go backward this season. He caught 51 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns in 15 appearances.

His usage was a point of contention for Samuel. In a since-deleted post on X in December, he said he was "not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!" While the 29-year-old took down the message, he didn't walk back from the sentiment when addressing it publicly.

"You read what you read. [I'm] a little frustrated for sure," he told reporters on Dec. 10.

Should Samuel get traded, the writing was on the wall based on San Francisco's offseason business last year. The team used a first-round pick on Ricky Pearsall and then signed Brandon Aiyuk to a $120 million extension.

Although Aiyuk is recovering from ACL and MCL tears that ended his season after seven games, it looks like the organization is prepared to move forward with he and Pearsall as the top two options in the passing attack.

One complication in trading Samuel is that the Niners are incentivized to wait well past the draft to actually make the move.

Any trade before June 1 will put $31 million in dead money on the books and cost San Francisco $15.2 million against the salary cap. By executing the deal on June 2 or later, the team would spread the dead money hit across 2025 ($10.6 million) and 2026 ($20.4 million) while saving $5.2 million toward the cap.

A resolution to this situation could be a few months away.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald expressed his support for Geno Smith to remain the team's starting quarterback moving forward.

"It's pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback," Macdonald told Fox 13 Seattle's Aaron Levine. "He's our quarterback. We love him. Can't wait to go to work with him."

"And we can win a championship with Geno Smith," he added.

Smith has received Pro Bowl recognition in two of the past three years, helping lead the Seahawks to a playoff appearance during the 2022 season.

Seattle finished 9-8 and 10-7 with Smith under center in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The team narrowly missed the playoffs in both seasons.

In 17 starts during Smith's 2024 campaign, he completed a career-high 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns. He struggled with turnovers, as his 15 interceptions were the third-most among all quarterbacks.

Smith improved down the stretch of the season, throwing for 697 yards and seven touchdowns while getting picked off twice over his final three appearances.

Geno to JSN again! @Seahawks score with 20 seconds left in the half.

📺: #MINvsSEA on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/4fE9HWNE6f

— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024

He has one season remaining on a three-year, $75 million contract that he signed with Seattle in March 2023 (via Spotrac). Smith's hefty $44.5 million cap hit for the 2025 season can be lowered with a new extension, but it's understandable that the Seahawks may have some concerns regarding a long-term commitment.

It's unknown if the signal-caller will remain as effective compared to past years in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's system. Smith will also be turning 35 years old during the 2025 regular season.

Still, Macdonald has repeatedly backed the passer as Seattle's top option moving forward.

"I want Geno to be here,'' Macdonald said earlier in the offseason, via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. "I think he's a heck of a player. The first thing it always comes back to is what's best for the team. I feel like Geno is the best for the team right now.''

As Smith searches for an extension with the Seahawks, he has the support of his head coach.

The Arizona Cardinals are reportedly targeting a new contract agreement with Trey McBride following a breakout 2024 season from the tight end.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals "hope" to give McBride a new deal during the offseason.

The former second-round pick blossomed into a key piece of Arizona's offense in 2024, earning Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career.

McBride caught 111 passes for 1,146 yards in 16 games, finding the end zone twice.

On his 98th catch of the year, Trey McBride gets his first TD!

📺: #AZvsLAR on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/vaEpSTZawt

— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024

The 25-year-old has steadily improved throughout each of his first three seasons in the league, as his receptions per game and receiving yards per game averages have increased every year since his inaugural season.

McBride is still on his rookie contract and is set to earn $5.3 million for the 2025 season, but it's easy to see why Arizona wants to get an extension done during the current offseason instead of waiting for him to hit free agency.

A long-term agreement should make McBride one of the highest-paid players at his position given his age and production. Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce is currently the highest-paid tight end in the NFL on an average annual basis, earning $17.1 million per year (via Spotrac).

McBride didn't appear concerned about potentially leaving Arizona when discussing a potential new contract earlier in the offseason, explaining that his representatives were planning to meet with Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort.

"I love being in Arizona and this is where I want to win," McBride said, via SI.com's Donnie Druin. "This is exactly what I want to do and I'm just excited to see what that next step is."

"Right now the season just ended so I'm still on a little relaxed mode, but I think Monti [Ossenfort] and my agent will start talking here soon and hopefully we can get something done before the season," he added.

There appears to be mutual interest from both sides to agree on a new contract before the 2025 regular season begins.