Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes' 10-year, $450 million historic contract was once viewed as a unique gamble, but it's now become one of the best team-friendly deals in sports.
While guys like Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert, Kyler Murray, and even Tua Tagovailoa now make more than Mahomes on an annual basis on shorter contracts, the Chiefs have the luxury of knowing they'll have the three-time Super Bowl MVP locked down for years to come as the market keeps rising.
The most recent QB mega-deal, Brock Purdy's $265 million contract over five years with the San Francisco 49ers, illustrates that point. Unfortunately for the Chiefs' NFC rival, the 49ers included one key detail in the contract that'll hamstring them should Purdy not perform up to standard.
49ers Made Big Mistake Giving Brock Purdy No-Trade Clause
As reported by NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Purdy's contract contains a no-trade clause. The former "Mr. Irrelevant" is undoubtedly a success story and has earned his contract relative to the market, yet it's still a risky move that San Francisco could come to regret.
After a dominant 2023 campaign in which he threw for 4,280 yards, 31 TDs, and 11 interceptions, Purdy's production suffered in 2024. When the roster dealt with injuries and Purdy's group of "Avengers" weren't all active, he felt the consequences, tossing just 20 TDs to 12 interceptions while finishing with a 6-9 record as a starter.
For years, many have claimed that head coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme elevates mediocre players. The media once argued whether Jimmy Garoppolo was a top-five signal caller, for example. Purdy failed to elevate the roster around him, and we've seen numerous examples of Mahomes taking a battered group deep into the postseason.
If things don't work out, there's no real exit for the 49ers to take. They're married to Purdy, for better or worse.
It's possible this deal works out for San Francisco. As long as Shanahan is around, Purdy has a puncher's chance. However, part of the reason the 49ers could afford their star-studded roster was that Purdy was on such a small salary. Now that he's among the NFL's richest QBs, the calculus changes.
We'll see if he's able to improve and truly carry a team, but at this point, it looks like the 49ers may have shot themselves in the foot out of sheer desperation.