Kawakami: 49ers’ Brock Purdy making the Pro Bowl a real possibility

The San Francisco 49ers haven't had a Pro Bowl quarterback since Jeff Garcia in 2002. That was over two decades ago. The team has had talented rosters in recent years, but the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era has been riddled with quarterback uncertainty—seemingly every year.

One Bay Area writer believes the streak of Pro Bowl absences for 49ers quarterbacks could end this season thanks to second-year passer Brock Purdy.

"I think that streak might end this season with Purdy," Tim Kawakami wrote in a recent column for The Athletic. "In fact, if he's healthy by the first few weeks of the season, I think he might have a better-than-even shot at it."

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Purdy is still recovering from the torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow he sustained in last season's NFC Championship Game. The quarterback underwent surgery in March, and the 49ers hope to get him back on the practice field sometime before the end of training camp.

If Purdy isn't ready by Week 1, Trey Lance or Sam Darnold will get the start. But the plan is to insert Purdy into the QB1 role once he is completely healed.

Yes, Purdy had an impressive rookie campaign. Still, some will criticize anointing him a Pro Bowl quarterback based on his small sample size of on-field action. Kawakami argues that the NFC landscape isn't what it once was regarding quarterback talent. Yes, you have Jalen Hurts, but there is a big dropoff after that.

February's game featured Kirk Cousins, Hurts, and Geno Smith at quarterback for the NFC. Would you dismiss the possibility that Purdy could have a better season than at least one of those players?

"I think Purdy has a shot to break into that group this season," Kawakami wrote. "Purdy is bound to be in this conversation if the 49ers win a lot of games and Purdy just puts up numbers similar to Jimmy Garoppolo's production in his healthy, successful years. And Purdy already has shown he can put up much better numbers than that."

Kawakami isn't alone in his belief in Purdy. Our own Al Sacco recently argued that the quarterback could be headed toward a Pro Bowl-worthy 2023 campaign.

"If Brock Purdy plays at least 15 games, I think he's going to make a Pro Bowl," Sacco said on the "No Huddle Podcast" earlier this month. "I think he will. And if he plays a full season, he's going to break that 4,000 yards, he's going to make a Pro Bowl, and the Niners, I think, are going to be in really great shape."