When it comes to quarterbacks in the NFL, one of the most polarizing evaluations by the media is San Francisco 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy. Heading into Year 5, Purdy has a good range of supporters, but also a good amount of detractors, leaving questions about where he ranks as a quarterback.
Purdy’s accuracy marks have generally been high, and as he’s gotten more experienced, we’ve seen his playmaking side continue to develop into a strength. He’s also quite cerebral, being able to read defenses
well, aggressive, and someone who has dealt with quite a bit of adversity with injuries and his supporting cast.
Of course, there are some issues with his game, as that aggressiveness can lead to turnover-worthy plays (10+ interceptions in his three years as a full-time starter). But Purdy has continued to grow while adapting to the circumstances around him, helping Kyle Shanahan build out the vision for his offense.
Last offseason, the 49ers star signed a massive five-year, $265 million deal that included $182.5 million in total guarantees, locking him in the Bay Area through the 2031 season. That extension begins to kick in this offseason, and puts more pressure on Purdy to deliver a Super Bowl to San Francisco.
Two years ago, the quarterback had one of the best statistical seasons by a 49ers quarterback, throwing for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He led the league with 9.6 yards per attempt and 13.9 yards per completion, as the 49ers’ passing game was riddled with explosive plays. That year, Purdy was in the top five for MVP voting, ranking fourth behind Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, and Christian McCaffrey.
Now heading into Year 5, could Purdy be an MVP candidate once again?
ESPN’s Seth Walder put together his way-too-early Top 10 MVP candidate list on Monday, and Purdy was listed among several other elite NFL quarterbacks. Joining him on the list were Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, New England’s Drake Maye, Los Angeles’s Justin Herbert, Dallas’s Dak Prescott, Los Angeles’s Matthew Stafford, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, and Green Bay’s Jordan Love.
“You can’t argue with Purdy’s numbers when he has been on the field,” Walder wrote. “His 69.7 QBR over the past four seasons ranks second behind only Josh Allen.
“The Kyle Shanahan offense might be a hindrance to Purdy getting MVP votes, but one could make the same argument against Stafford with Sean McVay or Caleb Williams (the other QB I considered here) with Ben Johnson. And it didn’t seem to hold the Rams QB back in last season’s vote.”
One thing about Purdy is that his numbers have been quite good, as seen by that 2023 season, as long as the turnover rate isn’t high. And if the 49ers are successful once again, that should only bolster his case for an MVP.
This season seems to be the perfect landscape for Purdy to push for the award. He has better receivers with Mike Evans and Christian Kirk in the fold, but will still be tasked with carrying the offense and taking on a bigger load. The run game should improve after a middling year last year, but it’ll still need to be the passing game that takes over for the 49ers. The offensive line should be similar to or better than last year, especially if Trent Williams can stay healthy. And the defense should be much better with players back, helping the 49ers ascend as a better team in the NFC.
There will be quite a few deserving candidates, and every NFL season throws a few twists and turns, but Purdy could end up being a serious MVP candidate next year.
