One hundred and three players have weighed in, and Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers has emerged as one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL. In a recent ESPN player poll, Purdy tied with Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams in the category, each receiving 14 votes.
Purdy's critics have consistently tried to downplay his accomplishments, often attributing his success to the talented playmakers around him or head coach Kyle Shanahan's innovative offensive scheme. They point to his entry into the league as the last overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, using the narrative of so many evaluators passing on him to label him a glorified "game manager."
"I do a really good job of avoiding the media in the season," tight end George Kittle recently said. "But it does get pretty annoying sometimes when you hear all the things going on about Brock because this is my thing: if he was a top-20 pick, first-round pick...he wouldn't be a punching bag to nobody. But because he was the last pick in the draft, because he's a shorter white guy from Iowa State, it's just like, 'Ah, nah, dude, it's just because of all the other guys on his team, that's why he's so good.'
"I'm like, just watch the tape. He's obviously better than what you guys are saying that he is. You look at all the stats, too. The down-the-field yards is one of the most in the NFL. His accuracy, his QB rating, his touchdowns to interceptions, his yards. He's top-five in every statistical category. It's not just the guys he playing with, he's also a really good quarterback."
Several of Purdy's NFL peers agree, recognizing that the third-year player doesn't receive the credit he deserves.
"Last year, Purdy led the 49ers to a Super Bowl and notched the best QBR in just his second season," wrote ESPN.
Four quarterbacks tied for third place with seven votes each: Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons, Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers, and Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers.
Purdy also set a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards, a significant achievement given the 49ers' rich quarterback history.
While Purdy tied for the most votes as the most underrated NFL quarterback, he also received six votes in another category—the most overrated quarterback. In this category, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills led with 11 votes, followed by Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles (10 votes) and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins (10).
As Purdy and the 49ers prepare to kick off their 2024 season, they are focused on rebounding from their Super Bowl defeat and climbing back to the top of the mountain. While Purdy would love to continue proving his critics wrong, his primary focus is on the ultimate goal: winning a championship for his teammates.
"Obviously, we have a goal at hand, going all the way, and winning, and finishing it. So that's where my mindset's at," Purdy said last month.
