After the San Francisco 49ers lost their first and second-string quarterbacks to season-ending injuries last year, they may have found their franchise signal-caller of the future.
Brock Purdy, the last player chosen in the 2022 NFL Draft, was forced to take over under center in Week 13 versus the Miami Dolphins after Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a foot injury.
But Purdy played brilliantly, and the 49ers made it to the NFC Championship Game, where they were routed by the Philadelphia Eagles after Purdy tore the UCL in his throwing elbow.
David Lombardi of The Athletic pointed out how little Purdy is being paid and how it means the team could be getting immense value from him.
Brock Purdy’s 2023 cap number: $889,253
Wild value for the 49ers. It’s even made up for the fact that they’ve gotten essentially nothing out of Trey Lance so far (his hit is over $9 million)
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) July 3, 2023
Purdy’s numbers as a starter last season rivaled those of almost any quarterback in the game, and he showed the type of poise that is rare for a rookie.
His ability to be accurate on intermediate-length passes, a quality Garoppolo doesn’t really possess, allowed head coach Kyle Shanahan to open up his offense a little bit to accommodate Purdy’s skills.
San Francisco ended the regular season with a 10-game winning streak, and as good as Purdy looked, their defense was more impressive than any other aspect of their arsenal.
They led the NFL in points and total yards allowed, as defensive end Nick Bosa recorded 18.5 sacks and won the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Bosa, middle linebacker Fred Warner, and safety Talanoa Hufanga all made the Pro Bowl and were named to the All-Pro First-Team.
That defense could be even nastier in 2023 with the addition of standout defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
NEXT: Brock Purdy Makes Big Announcement On Social Media
