Does Brock Purdy Crack the National Football League’s Top 10 Quarterbacks?
ESPN League Survey signals the league does not believe so.
In a recent ESPN ranking from league executives, coaches, and scouts, Brock Purdy, who just received an extension worth $265 million, was a glaring omission for 49ers fans. While not making the list is one thing, he was not even an honorable mention, which extends the list out to the top-12 quarterbacks in the league. Is it fair for Purdy, who had a down season this last year, to be ranked so low in recent quarterback rankings? While there is a clear-cut top upper echelon of quarterbacks in today’s league, while the top-12 or so quarterback rankings can be contentious, it seems like Purdy should rank among the higher end of that group.
The list kicks off with Patrick Mahomes, reigning Most Valuable Player, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson as the top four. These are the best of the best and in a league of their own due to elite traits, success, and big-play ability. After these top four, the next tier of quarterbacks includes Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert, Jayden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts. Each of these quarterbacks is defined by their specific talents, such as arm strength, mobility, or accuracy. While Purdy may not check in as one of the top quarterbacks in these categories, what prevents him from getting mentioned in the remaining four spots credited to Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Jordan Love, and C.J. Stroud?
When viewing statistics, Purdy’s claim becomes even more compelling. Purdy boasts a 67.5% completion percentage, clearing the competition for the remaining spots. His passer rating of 104.9 is a significant jump over his competition, with Goff’s 95.7 rating being the closest. Purdy’s 8.9 yards per attempt show his ability to efficiently push the ball downfield. Beyond that, he is top three in significant categories such as passing yards, touchdowns, and passing yards per game. These numbers demonstrate his ability to execute his offense at a high level, even with what most considered a down season.
While most can agree this was a down season for not only Purdy but the 49ers as well, his statistics show it may have not been as bad as some think. When comparing all of the quarterbacks in your major passing categories, Brock remains top three in most amongst this group. This is the case for completion percentage, yards, passing yards per attempt, and passing yards per game. The NFL tends to rank quarterbacks based on their most recent performances (as suggested by Daniel’s high rank), and this may be due to both Purdy and the 49ers having a down year. Statistics, even in a down year, still suggest Purdy warranted a top 14 nod on this list. Does this come down to the skillset preference of these high-ranking officials?
When looking at these quarterbacks, Purdy has the weakest arm strength of the group and is one of the smallest, as Stroud, Goff, and Love all sit six feet three or taller. It surely was not the case in the 2024 rankings, as he was an honorable mention while two of the quarterbacks to make the list last season failed to make it this year. While his size is not what most consider ideal for the quarterback spot, his anticipation and accuracy certainly have made up for what he lacks in size.
While this list of quarterbacks was created by executives, scouts and coaches it begs the question truly what prevents Purdy from even getting an honorable mention? The simplest conclusion is the “what have you done for me lately” in terms of winning football games or size and skillset. Once you get out of the top eight quarterbacks in this league who have truly solidified themselves above others it comes down to preference. What skillset do you value over others? There is nothing on paper that significantly pushes Purdy down the quarterback rankings and especially outside of the top 12.
Being ranked in the top 16 still is no easy task and should be applauded and the group outside of the top eight seems to be interchangeable. With this list being open to movement each and every year, it is clear Purdy has time to move his way up the rankings over the next few seasons. Shanahan has made it clear with $265 million reasons that while executives, coaches and scouts have made it known Purdy is not a top 12 quarterback, he disagrees.