San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is one of the most polarizing players in the NFL.
Some think he is a terrific player. Others think he is a game manager. Then there are those who say he is merely a product of Kyle Shanahan’s system.
Count former NFL quarterback and current analyst Chase Daniel as a believer.
During a recent episode of The Chasin’ It Pod, Daniel said that he thinks Purdy is elite.
Where do you rank Brock Purdy amongst the league's QBs?
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 30, 2024
h/t @ChaseDaniel pic.twitter.com/GSTXD5gdMM
Those comments by Daniels are sure to raise some hairs, but it’s hard to really argue with him at this point.
Purdy is coming off of a fantastic 2023 campaign in which he played 16 games and threw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 69.4 percent of his passes and posting a league-high passer rating of 113. He made the Pro Bowl and finished fourth in MVP voting for his efforts.
Most importantly, Purdy led the 49ers all the way to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime.
The 24-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Iowa State, was selected by San Francisco with the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
He began his rookie year as the Niners’ third-string quarterback, but was pressed into starting duty after season-ending injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
Purdy impressed in nine appearances and five starts, totaling 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns and four picks. He then led the 49ers all the way to the NFC Championship Game, where he ultimately injured his elbow after throwing just four passes.
The Queen Creek, Az. native would return with a vengeance last year, stamping his name among the most productive signal-callers in football.
We’ll see what Brock Purdy does for an encore in 2024. If he ends up having another spectacular season, it may be time to finally give him the respect he deserves.
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