When Mr. Irrelevant was drafted with the last selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, the pick was met with the obligatory yawn. San Francisco, who had something of an embarrassment of riches at the quarterback position, listed Trey Lance, Nate Sudfeld, Brock Purdy, and Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart. With General Manager John Lynch squarely in Lance’s corner, having a tested Jimmy Garappolo as QB2, and veteran Nate Sudfeld holding a clipboard, the Niners looked set.
Can Brock Purdy Win a Championship for the 49ers?
On October 23, 2022, Purdy came in on the 49ers last drive of the 4th quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing for 66 yards and an interception in the 44–23 loss. It may have seemed uneventful, but it was only the beginning of a wild ride in the city by the bay.
When December rolled around, the predictable happened, when Garoppolo. went down with a foot injury. Purdy delivered and finished the game completing 25-of-37 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns. San Francisco would beat the Miami Dolphins 33–17.
With a playoff win in the balance, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy would quickly hit his stride. Down 16-14 to the Seahawks, Purdy would catch fire in the second half on Wild Card Weekend, going 18 of 30 for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Numbers good enough to lift San Francisco to a 41-23 win over Seattle.
In the playoffs, the Niners would go 1-1, beating the Seattle Seahawks but ultimately losing in the NFC Championship Game to the Philadelphia Eagles. In the championship, Purdy would suffer an elbow injury, diagnosed with a complete tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.
The Iowa State alum had taken the NFL by storm, the kind akin to an F-5 cyclone on the Iowa plains. For the season, Purdy finished throwing for 1,374 yards, thirteen touchdowns, and four interceptions. He would win all five of his starts as well as the NFC West, leading the 49ers to the second seed in the playoffs. Purdy’s passer rating of 119.4 through his five starts is the highest for a quarterback since Kurt Warner in 1999.
Brock Purdy Left The NFC Championship Game With An Elbow Injury After A Brutal Hit By Haason Reddick…But He's Back After Josh Johnson Got Checked For a Concussion https://t.co/Vu7Cxe4Eqf pic.twitter.com/cidDUfrkaJ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 29, 2023
Purdy looks to be on track to start Week 1 in Pittsburgh. For some added insurance, San Francisco signed Sam Darnold who has proven a solid backup. But make no bones about it, the Niners are looking for Purdy to keep the magic going in 2023 as they make another run at a division and conference title.
Purdy Moves the Defense
Very quickly, it became obvious that Purdy could move the defense with his eyes. By doing so, Purdy was able to manipulate defensive backs and open passing lanes. Against the Dolphins, notice how he takes Jauan Jennings out of coverage to convert on third down. This type of skill level is rarely found in rookies, much less those picked at the end of the draft.
Purdy uses his eyes to move the backer, rips throw on time to Jennings to convert a 3rd down. One of his best plays of the game. Seven of Purdy's eleven 3rd down completions on Sunday moved the chains.#49ers pic.twitter.com/zlsnsEzykx
— Jack Hammer (@JackHammer_NFL) December 8, 2022
Improvement Still Needed
It almost seems impossible to say Purdy “needs some work” on his game, but he does. Pocket presence is one key area. Purdy has a habit of moving out early and up into the pocket early. This often led him to miss big scoring plays downfield. Additionally, Purdy needs to work within the confines of the system. He showed a lot of “freelancing” which led to him missing opportunities.
Can Brock Purdy Win the West?
Catching lightning in a bottle once is a rare occurrence, but twice is a rare feat. But the 49ers are fortunate to play in a division where a clear leader is hard to find.
For San Francisco to climb the mountain and get back to the NFC West Title Game will not be easy. With the exception of Arizona, it is likely to be a close three-team race. Expect the division to come down to the Los Angeles Rams and the 49ers. The winner will make a very strong argument for the Super Bowl.
Main Photo: Bob Streicher – USA TODAY Sports
