There’s a lot of chatter surrounding NFL quarterbacks and where they rank among their peers. A lot of it is just to provide fodder for various news outlets. But for San Francisco 49ers cornerstone Brock Purdy, these discussions may actually be instructive, as they give insight into his yearly progression.
The Athletic released its rankings of NFL starting quarterbacks, and Purdy came in at number 11, tied with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. Many of the usual names fill the top-10, but a few others who outrank the Niners' gunslinger, such as Jordan Love, Jared Goff, and Drake Maye, could arguably slot in behind him on any given day.
Yet this ranking is still one of the more accurate ones in the eyes of Purdy apologists. An ESPN list from a month ago had Purdy further down the list, which seemed to only add to the belief that he is slept on around the league.
A lot of the anonymous quotes about Purdy in the ranking focus on his scrambling ability and how he’s more athletic than many give him credit for. However, one line stands out from the rest: “It’s tough finding voters who don’t mention Shanahan’s system when discussing Purdy.”
Brock Purdy's biggest hurdle for recognition is also calling plays for him
That’s the double-edged sword of playing for a head coach like Kyle Shanahan. His reputation for strokes of offensive genius often detracts from Purdy’s abilities, and it's an easy cop-out for those eager to ascribe Purdy’s success to anyone other than himself.
Narratives can shift, though. Many said that 49ers legend Joe Montana was a “system quarterback” who only succeeded because of Bill Walsh’s offense. Similar claims were made about Tom Brady early in his career.
With each passing season, Purdy is working to prove doubters wrong. He may never quite be welcomed into the “Tier 1” echelon of quarterbacks, but that doesn’t matter, as long as he brings home a Super Bowl victory before all is said and done. If he does, then pundits may rank him wherever they please.
Still, it’s nice to see him creeping up lists, as it shows that opinions can change over time. More people are coming around on Purdy, and they're witnessing what Niners fans have seen since he was a rookie.
Purdy doesn't care about any of that noise, though. He merely wants to win. If the Niners can stay healthy this season, there's a chance they can make another run.
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