Brock Purdy's MVP candidacy isn't only a product of his own best career start, but it's also in part caused by the regression of several of his peers.
Plenty of signal-callers across the league who could be considered "elite" haven't entirely lived up to the moniker this season. Several others have been removed from the game due to injury, and that's always going to hurt a quarterback's chances at MVP.
Purdy is taking full advantage, especially with these three quarterbacks trending in the wrong direction.
Justin Herbert is playing the worst football of his career
Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have started out the season 0-5 matching the Tennessee Titans and the Miami Dolphins at the bottom of the league. Herbert has been hailed as a perennial top-five talent in the past, and he's previously put up good numbers to support this.
But recently, Herbert hasn't been performing as he once did.
Through five weeks this season, Herbert has thrown only five touchdowns and seven interceptions, and he has a season completion percentage of 59.4.
Something isn't working for Herbert, and there's no injuries to hide behind.
When comparing these numbers with Purdy's, there's a stark difference. Purdy has a season completion percentage of 69.0 and has thrown for a league-leading 13 touchdowns and two interceptions. He's also added another touchdown on the ground.
Jalen Hurts looks nothing like a Super Bowl MVP
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles is in a similar position as Herbert, however the former's numbers and season record aren't quite as bad. The 2-3 Eagles are vying for their spot in the NFC East, and it was recently announced that Hurts won't be playing Week 6 due to a blood clot.
Prior to that announcement, the former Super Bowl MVP had posted eight touchdown passes with only three interceptions, but his completion percentage is worse than Herbert's at 57.8. The Eagles are always going to get rushing touchdowns via the everlasting tush-push, but so far, Hurts has only one.
Brock Purdy already beat Sam Darnold head to head
Sam Darnold leads the defending Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks, but even his numbers haven't stepped up to Purdy's. Though it's true that Darnold missed Week 2 due to injury, he's participated in the rest of the season.
Through four games, Darnold has put up seven touchdowns while throwing five interceptions. Darnold isn't typically a mobile quarterback, and his numbers reflect that, with only 16 rushing yards on the whole season.
Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford and Pat Mahomes are still out there, so nobody is handing Purdy anything. Purdy just needs to keep playing like he has, and the rest of the names will fall off as the season goes.
All Purdy needs to do is be the one who doesn't.
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