Back in the late summer of 2022, then-rookie quarterback Brock Purdy did enough in the San Francisco 49ers' three preseason games to raise eyebrows, which ultimately resulted in him squeaking out a spot on the regular-season 53-man roster.
By year's end, he was the bona fide franchise starter.
Now, in the wake of securing a five-year, $265 million extension that makes him the highest-paid player in Niners history, Purdy doesn't quite have to look at exhibition games in a "do or die" context. A poor performance in an otherwise meaningless game won't mean subsequently getting cut from the roster.