In a surprising twist, the rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams spilled off the field. Rams rookie Puka Nacua commented on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s upcoming contract talks, stirring controversy.
This Friday, Around the NFL dropped a bombshell on their X handle. The post? “Puka Nacua believes 49ers ‘window closes’ if Brock Purdy makes more than $50 million per year.” Tim Kawakami chimed in, noting, “I don’t think Nacua realized this comment would take off like this — but it’s Aggregation World, and he really did say it. Also, a pretty firm rule in sports is that it’s not too cool to critique other players’ negotiating positions.” So, what’s the deal here?
I don’t think Nacua realized this comment would take off like this — but it’s Aggregation World, and he really did say it.
Also: Pretty firm rule in sports is that it’s not too cool to critique other players’ negotiating positions. https://t.co/q4HX8IRQdq
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) April 18, 2025
Here’s the scoop: Puka Nacua was chatting with Julian Edelman on his Games With Names podcast when he gave his take on Brock Purdy’s potential contract. Nacua suggested Purdy should earn around $45 million annually, but not hit the $50 million mark.
His reasoning? If Purdy takes less than his market value (keep in mind, 12 quarterbacks already make more than $45 million a year—some without even sniffing a Super Bowl), the 49ers can use that extra money to build a stronger team. But if Purdy goes for the big payday? Nacua thinks it could spell trouble.
“I think he seems like a smart guy,” Puka Na͏cua said about Purdy. “They [the 49ers] still have a chance to be in their Super Bowl window. And I think if he goes for a $50 million-plus per year deal, then the window closes.” Here’s the kicker: Purdy has been playing on a bargain deal, earning less than $1 million annually as Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 draft. But now that he’s wrapping up Year 3, he’s finally eligible to cash in—and he’s got serious leverage.
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The numbers don’t lie. Pur͏dy has been solid for the Niners, racking up a 27–15 record as a starter. That includes 4–2 in the playoffs. He’s completed 67.5% of his passes, throwing for 9,518 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions across 40 games. The team hit a rough patch in 2024, finishing 6–11 after injuries derailed several of their stars. But when Puka Nacua opened up about Brock Purdy and the $50 million question, fans lost their minds—here’s why his honest take is making waves!
Nacua’s $50M take on Purdy sparks fan uproar
Here’s where things g͏et interesting͏: Puka Na͏cua’s com͏ments rea͏lly͏ g͏ot fans going wild͏. “He seemed to instantly know that it would, but it was too late. He cringes a bit after he says it,” one fan chimed in. Another threw this out there: “Rams scared of Brock staying in their division long-term is how I’m interpreting this. ” Real tal͏k, though͏: Puk͏a’s not totally ͏off base.
Some might say the 49ers’ Super Bowl hopes went up in smoke in 2024 after finishing last in their division and missing the playoffs. And with Brock Purdy’s looming contract situation, building around him could get tricky. But don’t count them out for 2025. Veterans like Trent Williams, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey may be aging by NFL standards, but they’re still dominant when healthy. As one fan noted, “I think he realized he screwed up when there was a slight awkward pause after he said that, before moving on to Fred Warner. ” That’s a bold one.
Let’s keep it real: the 49ers still have serious talent. Just look at how teams were snapping up their players in free agency. But here’s the deal—it’s all going to come down to staying healthy and Brock Purdy stepping up. Will we see the 2023 version of Purdy, or the 2024 one who kept trying to do too much? Some fans are already throwing shade: “Let’s see if he has the same energy when he’s in his first contract negotiations, lol,” and “He’s an idiot. He didn’t even know what teams were in his division—that’s all you need to know.” That’s right. Purdy needs to pull up his socks this season.
The Niners will probably make the playoffs but get bounced early—still enough to quiet some of the haters. But let’s not forget. This is the same squad that only managed six wins last year and kept folding in the fourth quarter. Can Purdy silence the haters? Only time will tell.
The post Calls Mount Against Puka Nacua’s for Shading Brock Purdy After Rams WR’s Honest Take on $50M Problem appeared first on EssentiallySports.
