Why an ESPN analyst believes 49ers QB Brock Purdy is a top-five NFL signal caller
Why an ESPN analyst believes 49ers QB Brock Purdy is a top-five NFL signal caller
Discourse about San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been revitalized after the final pick in the 2022 NFL draft inked a five-year, $265 million extension.
While the debate rages about Purdy's value, ESPN's Kevin Clark and Jeff Darlington in an episode of 'This is Football' laid out why the QB is actually one of the five best in the NFL.
Much of the Purdy discussion involves trying to put him in a vacuum and comparing him to other QBs in scenarios that live outside of reality. Clark made the case for Purdy as a top-five signal caller by placing him in the real world.
"Everybody always says, 'oh, was Brock Purdy a top 10 quarterback?'" Clark said. "And I say, 'I don't care, because Brock Purdy with Kyle Shanahan is a top-five quarterback."
The numbers back up Clark's assertion. Purdy's efficiency numbers have been excellent since he took over as the 49ers' starting QB, and the club is 23-13 in the regular season with him under center. They've also gone to two NFC championship games and a Super Bowl since Purdy became the starter late in the 2022 campaign.
It was clear via the stats why the 49ers wanted to stick with Purdy, but Darlington offered additional context for why the team (read: Shanahan) wanted to make him one of the 10 highest-paid QBs in the NFL.
"And I think that's what a lot of people forget a lot of the time, is that like, that's why Kyle latched on. He found his guy," Darlington said. "He found the guy who has the appropriate recall, the appropriate demeanor, the appropriate practice skill set. I think that in the NFL, again, I think that we don't put enough credence on a coach-QB relationship."
Whether Purdy is a consensus top-five QB among the general football commentariat matters less than whether he continues producing like a top-five QB. If he does, the 49ers have a real chance to win the Super Bowl thanks to their quarterback and the head coach's commitment to him.
More 49ers: 49ers QB Brock Purdy drew no trade interest throughout $265 million extension negotiation
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