All offseason long, there has been debate over where San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy stands among NFL signal callers. There are many who believe him to be a legitimate needle-mover, while others consider him to be slightly above average. Based on one statistic, though, he might actually be top five.
EPA is a newer stat in the NFL, meaning “expected points added.” It’s a little bit like “WAR” in baseball in that it’s an advanced stat meant to measure value. According to the stat "EPA per dropback," Purdy is the second-best passer in the NFL from 2023 to 2025 when throwing with a clean pocket. He is also ranked fourth-best when it comes to passing under pressure.
That’s pretty impressive, and Purdy certainly isn't in bad company. The only two other quarterbacks who rank in the top five in both are Josh Allen and Drake Maye.
The eye test has always told the same story. Purdy has always been really good at getting the ball out when he’s under pressure. During his first meaningful NFL action against the Miami Dolphins in his rookie year, Miami sent a flurry of blitzes his way, and he continued to complete passes without getting fazed.
He has never been afraid of hanging in there until the last possible moment before getting the ball out to his receivers. A lot of young quarterbacks get happy feet and start to panic the moment they feel pressure. Purdy, on the other hand, has always had the preternatural ability to either hang in the pocket and take a hit or roll out of the pocket and start scrambling.
Brock Purdy knows what will truly put him in the "elite" category
Just one stat isn’t going to change the narratives surrounding Purdy, though. Unfortunately, many hold his environment against him, as he has head coach Kyle Shanahan calling the plays and Christian McCaffrey in the backfield. Fair or not, Purdy seems to have his coach and the players around him used as a justification to devalue his own play.
Never mind the fact that Purdy is clearly the best quarterback to play in Shanahan’s system. It’s fair to point out that Purdy’s worst year in 2024 coincided with the year McCaffrey missed most of the season, but last season Purdy proved he can get the job done even with some of his best receivers out.
EPA is well and good, but winning championships is the only true way to shift narratives. If Purdy and the Niners can make a run and win it all this season, that could be what finally earns him a seat at the table in the “elite” quarterback discussion.
Add us as a preferred source on Google