Purdy Faces Uncertain Outlook as Shanahan Lands New WR

Brock Purdy’s Focus on Growth and the 49ers’ New Look

Brock Purdy entered training camp with a sense of confidence. After securing a $265 million contract extension and purchasing a house next to George Kittle in Nashville, it was easy to feel good about his position. However, Purdy remained focused on football, recognizing that success at this level requires constant effort and improvement.

When asked about his priorities heading into his fourth year as the 49ers’ franchise cornerstone, Purdy emphasized his commitment to working on mobility and other aspects of his game. “Honestly, just continue to work on my mobility and stuff,” he said. While that statement may sound straightforward, there is more to it. Purdy acknowledged that while he doesn’t see himself as a "somewhat more of a stiff quarterback" as a red flag, he is still striving for growth.

“That’s not a bad thing, but something I always try and work on is my arm and mobility with that and keeping it stretched out and stuff,” he added. For a player who already scrambled for 323 yards and five rushing touchdowns on just 66 carries last season, Purdy clearly isn’t settling. He is aiming for sharper throws from every angle—inside and outside the pocket.

“Just making sure I’m stretching and not be loose or anything but a guy who can make certain arm angle throws and stuff like that.”

While Purdy was focused on his own development, his head coach made a move that caught some attention. Recently, Kyle Shanahan addressed wideout Ricky Pearsall’s return from a hamstring issue, noting that the WR was nearly back to full speed.

“I mean, when you hit your GPS speed, your max speed that you had before you were hurt, we can run all those routes,” Shanahan said. “That’s usually your protocol to go back… His conditioning is good. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t out there Sunday.”

Still, with Pearsall’s snaps limited for now, the 49ers turned to another option. The team signed veteran wideout Equanimeous St. Brown, a 6-foot-5 receiver who inked a one-year deal after six NFL seasons split across Green Bay, Chicago, and New Orleans. With 63 catches, 928 yards, and two touchdowns in 62 games, he brings a tall target that Purdy needs. St. Brown also has playoff experience, having recorded two grabs for 37 yards in three postseason games. Although he only appeared in two games with the Saints last year, this signing signals a fresh opportunity in The Bay.

Shanahan believes that Purdy can take full charge of this new-look WR room and lead the 49ers back into Super Bowl contention.

Shanahan Places Super Bowl Hopes on Purdy

Kyle Shanahan has made it clear—the 49ers’ future runs through Brock Purdy. After San Francisco handed their QB a massive five-year extension this offseason, there’s no more guessing who’s leading The Bay into the next era. This move didn’t just lock in a franchise quarterback; it tied Shanahan’s job security and the Niners’ playoff future directly to Purdy’s success.

Heading into 2025, Shanahan isn’t downplaying the stakes. In a recent presser, he sounded as locked in on Purdy’s trajectory as ever. “I think Brock’s played at a very high level since he’s been here, since his first game in to his last game,” Shanahan said. “I think Brock’s played at an extremely high level and that’s why he’s earned that contract.”

But even with that high praise, Shanahan added a crucial point: “You get better or worse, you don’t stay the same.” So far, Shanahan sees no signs of plateauing. He’s all-in on Purdy’s growth and mentality.

“So like, Brock has had a hell of a short career so far, he had a hell of an offseason,” Shanahan continued. “When you have a guy who is to me real in those ways, it hasn’t been fake… he will keep getting better and that’s what we saw throughout OTAs.”

The message is clear—the Faithful might not always have a loaded roster, so Purdy has to be the one lifting the load.

Last season did come with a reality check, though. Purdy hit his roughest patch when injuries piled up—especially with Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk banged up. Still, Shanahan isn’t sweating it. Because if Purdy’s development continues its upward trend, Shanahan’s 49ers only need to limit their injury concerns to be in a prime position to challenge for championships.