Why Alex Smith continues to be impressed by 49ers QB Brock Purdy

The San Francisco 49ers have been impressive through their first two games of the season. Quarterback Brock Purdy continues to win. His regular-season win streak could extend to eight games on Thursday night, with the Niners hosting the New York Giants at Levi's Stadium.

One former player who remains impressed by the 49ers' second-year quarterback is Alex Smith. Smith addressed those who question whether Purdy, the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is for real and if the young quarterback can "take this team the distance."

"He doesn't look like Josh Allen or Justin Herbert, the guys that we want to label these premier quarterbacks in the NFL, but he's built, and it's a perfect place to be because he's an amazing facilitator of this offense," Smith said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "And what this Kyle Shanahan system asks of the quarterback—I mean, there are multiple plays called on almost every single play. So, at the line of scrimmage, you've got to get him another great play.

"Even in the run game, this run game only works because you're getting to the best look. And then, again, in the pass game, require somebody to process all that information, spit the ball out, be accurate, get the ball to your playmakers, limit turnovers. And that's what he's done.

"And on top of all of that, he's added a dimension of playmaking with his feet that I think none of us expected. I mean, this is a guy that I think is far more athletic than people give him credit for. Again, ran for over a thousand yards at Iowa State."

Smith notes that the NFC today reminds him of the conference back in the 90s when it was the 49ers and Dallas Cowboys on top, and then you had everyone else. The two teams seem destined to clash again in this season's playoffs, and fans will get a preview of the matchup in a few weeks.

"Certainly, I think you could throw Philly in that mix, but you've got kind of this big three-headed monster in the NFC," Smith continued. "These teams are built, from top to bottom, so well, and any one of them, on any given day, could beat each other. Fortunately, the Niners have gotten the Cowboys' number the last couple of years, but it seems like we're headed towards that road again."