Brock Purdy has made a name for himself in the NFL and continues to turn heads in his second season.
After his meteoric rise from Mr. Irrelevant to the 49ers starting quarterback, Purdy’s storybook 2022 season ended in a tragic way after he suffered a torn UCL in San Francisco’s NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Purdy underwent surgery in March and returned to the 49ers practice field six months later. After a healthy training camp and preseason, Purdy shined in San Francisco’s Week 1 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, prompting former NFL running back LeSean McCoy to bold claim on FOX Sports 1’s “Speak.” on Wednesday Purdy was the second best quarterback in the NFC.
“If you look at Brock Purdy, I’ll be honest about this thing, man. Brock Purdy right now, he’s the second best quarterback in the NFC,” McCoy said. “I’m not talking about resumes, because if we continue, he’s nowhere near that. Some of these guys, like Matthew Stafford, throw for a lot of yards. If we’re talking about playing today, if you put him the Cowboys’ offense, I’m nervous. Brock Purdy? I’m nervous.
“So no matter how you feel about that, right now I’ve got him as the second-best quarterback behind (Jalen Hurts).”
That means McCoy ranks Purdy higher than quarterbacks Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr, Jared Goff, Daniel Jones, Geno Smith, Justin Fields, Jordan Love, Bryce Young, Baker Mayfield, Desmond Ridder and Sam Howell.
McCoy isn’t the only current or former NFL player to rank Purdy in the top half of NFL QBs. After the 49ers’ Week 1 win, Dallas Cowboys superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons said Purdy was one of the 15 best signal callers in the league.
“I just don’t think we should sleep on Brock Purdy anymore,” Parsons said on his podcast “The Edge with Micah Parsons.” “Yeah, he’s a seventh-round pick. Yeah, he came in late in the season and won six games in a row, taken. [the 49ers] to the NFC Championship before his injury.
“But Purdy, don’t sleep anymore, brother. I believe people will come to you as they come. [Aaron] Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes. Yes, you are surrounded by a great team but you are playing with your butt. And you got one hell of a story, bro.”
“If we were to rank Purdy right now, I would put Purdy, I think Purdy is a top-15 quarterback,” Parsons said. “There are things we want to see more of from Purdy, not when Purdy wins but when Purdy loses. I think the tough aspect of the game of football is huge. Learn how to play from behind. -on situational football. I’m saying he can’t, it’s something we’ve never seen.”
Purdy has a long way to go before he’s universally recognized as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but there’s no doubt the 23-year-old is on his way.
As evidenced by the ringing endorsements he continues to receive.
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