San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is surrounded by a talented supporting cast, a fact his critics often use to downplay the third-year player's accomplishments. After all, it's difficult to overlook that Purdy has multiple weapons at his disposal, each capable of taking the football and punishing opposing defenses.
NFL Media's Gennaro Filice recently assessed the NFL landscape and ranked teams based on their quarterback, running back, and pass catcher combinations—the playmaking trios. Unsurprisingly, the 49ers, who boast one of the NFL's most talented rosters, rank high on the list.
Filice places San Francisco second, highlighting the trio of Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. However, Aiyuk's future with the team remains uncertain, adding complexity to the ranking.
The 49ers are still hopeful of signing Aiyuk to a contract extension. Still, the wideout's demands could prove too costly for a team that must consider future salary cap implications, especially with Purdy's contract extension on the horizon next year. How far will Aiyuk take his standoff with the 49ers? Could it extend into the regular season, potentially sidelining him?
"On Wednesday morning, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo said there's no real update on this front, so for the purposes of this exercise, I'm proceeding with Aiyuk in red and gold," Filice wrote. "Clearly, that's the resolution Niners Faithful want, considering the wideout is fresh off a second-team All-Pro season in which he established himself as the clear No. 1 option in San Francisco's passing game. Amazingly, his individual effort in 2023 ranked third in this loaded trio."
Aiyuk led the 49ers in receiving yards for the second consecutive year, amassing 1,342 last season, marking his second straight year surpassing the 1,000-yard mark. He reached the end zone seven times and played a significant role in Purdy setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards.
McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, recorded an NFL-leading 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 total touchdowns last season, solidifying his status as one of the league's premier playmakers.
"McCaffrey and Purdy finished third and fourth, respectively, in MVP voting last season," Filice continued. "CMC then reset the running back market -- again -- by signing a lucrative extension this offseason. Purdy isn't eligible for an extension until next offseason, so he'll continue to be the league's biggest bargain in 2024, playing on a base salary of $985,000. Don't cry for Mr. Irrelevant, though -- he's probably one solid season away from breaking the bank."
The only team ranked higher than the 49ers is the Philadelphia Eagles, with a trio consisting of quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and wide receiver A.J. Brown.
As the 49ers enter the season with Super Bowl aspirations, the chemistry between Purdy, McCaffrey, and Aiyuk will be crucial.
