5 reasons why Brock Purdy is not the answer for the 49ers as QB1
Brock Purdy has been sensational for the San Francisco 49ers, and there is every chance he will help guide the team to the Super Bowl. However, there are serious reasons why he isn’t the long-term answer for the team at QB1.
Many 49ers fans may read this and be immediately puzzled or angry, or even both. Every piece of evidence on display thus far suggests Brock Purdy could be a starting QB for the Niners beyond 2023.
The 23-year-old Queen Creek, Arizona native has won every single game he has played at the time of writing. He won his first playoff game, something that players with far greater reputations take years to do.
Purdy’s play has galvanized his teammates and made up for the injury losses of both Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. He has proven that the 49ers' scouting department is one of the best in the sport, having selected Purdy as the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.
However, there are questions that Brock Purdy is yet to answer as a starting QB, and in fairness, you could even argue these questions haven’t been asked of him till now.
Despite his brilliant end to the 2022 season, which could get even more magical as the post-season develops, there are several reasons why many are yet to be entirely convinced by the rookie.
Here's why the 49ers shouldn’t consider Brock Purdy their long-term starting quarterback
#5 He hasn’t been tested
Brock Purdy has played expertly well for the San Francisco 49ers, but at the time of writing, he is yet to face a truly elite defense.
The visit of the Dallas Cowboys on January 23 may well present that moment, but for now, Purdy has been able to ride the wave of a team that has momentum and immense quality on defense.
His life has been made infinitely more manageable. The Niners are yet to face dominant defenses or pass-rushing experts who could make Purdy question his own decisions since Jimmy Garoppolo went down.
“I think he’s regressed since his first start.” — @AlexRollinsNFL
Since Brock Purdy’s first start:
• 12 TD passes - ranked 1st
• 1,245 yards passing - 3rd
• 9.4 yards per attempt - 2nd
• 119.4 passer rating - 1st
• Rookie of the Month - for Dec/Jan
• 2x Rookie of the Week https://t.co/CUaQie2Whh
Micah Parsons is a player of that caliber, but at the moment, there hasn’t been a serious test of Purdy’s mettle as a long-term starting quarterback.
#4 Trey Lance is more talented
There is a reason Kyle Shanahan desperately pushed his general manager, John Lynch, to trade up to select Trey Lance in the NFL Draft.
Shanahan believes Lance is a supremely talented young quarterback who perfectly fits his offensive scheme.
2022 was supposed to be Lance’s breakout year. He eventually wrestled the starting spot away from Garoppolo, and Shanahan rebuilt the playbook around him. However, a season-ending injury struck at just the wrong time.
We’re still waiting to see if Lance is as good as Shanahan believes him to be. He is more naturally talented than Brock Purdy, and it will take an awful lot of movement to change Shanahan’s opinion of his favored QB.
Lance will likely be given the starting spot ahead of 2023, as Kyle Shanahan believes his perfect offensive system needs Lance at the heart of it.
#3 A team can’t have two QBs who want to start
It’s very difficult for an NFL team to house two quarterbacks who both consider themselves starters. Usually, we see a designated backup that is often a veteran and is happy to take this position and play only if required.
Occasionally, a young, newly-drafted QB is happy to sit and learn from an older player who has been great in the league.
But in Purdy and Lance, the 49ers will have two similarly aged guys who want to start. You can’t let them battle for the starting spot because someone will end up unhappy, which can become problematic.
Brock Purdy may have felt resigned to a role as a backup NFL quarterback when the 49ers took him with the last pick of the 2022 draft, but now that he has had a taste of life in the big job, he’s not going to want to give that up.
#2 49ers are playing with momentum in 2022
Teams play a lot better football when momentum is on their side. The San Francisco 49ers have played with impetus ever since their winning streak began.
Brock Purdy, of course, has to be given some credit for keeping that momentum going, but it’s a fact that it’s easier to play when things are going well.
The @49ers finish the regular season on a 10-game winning streak 🔥😤 https://t.co/kzPRgVXVC8
As briefly mentioned, we’ve yet to see Purdy play through a position of strife. There hasn’t been a moment where the 49ers have had their backs against the wall and required the young quarterback to drive them down the field.
Those moments will come in 2023, especially if the 49ers suffer injuries or a bad run. Despite Purdy's playing time in 2022, he will essentially be a rookie again when that period arrives.
How will he deal with it? There is no way of knowing, and the 49ers can’t afford to surrender a year to find out.
#1 His trade value will never be higher
The San Francisco 49ers were able to secure Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots because the Patriots knew his trade value would never be higher.
Brock Purdy’s body of work has been flawless up to this point, but that won’t last forever. Teams are yet to see his weaknesses, and he won enough games in 2022 to vastly increase his trade value.
Turning the last pick in the draft into a player with possible future 1st round picks would be huge for San Francisco. Considering the value teams placed on Brock Osweiler after a lesser cameo, teams will fall over themselves to get Purdy and offer him a major contract.
Even if he somehow starts ahead of Lance in 2023, this trade value can only go down for the Niners. It will never be as high as it is right now, and it would be wise for them to cash in and bolster other areas of their elite team.