Brock Purdy is making the most of this offseason, working with head coach Kyle Shanahan and the other San Francisco 49ers coaches. He's been evaluating film and working with his teammates on the practice field to build on an impressive 2023 campaign.
Purdy didn't get much of that experience as a rookie in 2022 when he was battling to make an impression during limited practice reps and working to earn a roster spot. Last year, he was recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow and didn't throw to his teammates until training camp.
Despite these challenges, Purdy responded with one of the best seasons ever by a 49ers quarterback, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards.
This year, he can fully immerse himself in preparation as a starting NFL quarterback. Of course, he took a brief break in March to marry his fiancée, Jenna, almost exactly one year after his surgery. In April, Purdy shared what it meant to participate in offseason activities from the start.
"Yeah, it was huge," Purdy said. "I got married, really, a year since surgery. I got surgery March 10th. I got married March 9th. So for me it was like, this is going to be a different kind of offseason. It's nice that I don't have to be on this schedule and regime of rehab, rehab, rehab, get healthy, and sort of stress about am I going to make it back for the season or not?
"So it's been nice to obviously marry Jenna, and then we sort of just have an offseason to breathe and reflect on really the last two years because it's been go, go, go. So for me it's been really good, just mentally and sort of having that hunger to come back and be ready to roll. So it's been good."
During the 49ers' offseason program, Purdy focused on fundamentals, including footwork, timing, and concepts, while improving his speed and mobility.
"He is definitely ahead of where he was last year this time," Shanahan said in May. "I mean, it was just real cool being able to go through a whole year of cutups just like we did last year and just starting in Phase 1. The command he had of going out there with the drills and everything and really trying to apply the stuff we had just been watching in the meeting rooms, that really happened all off our 2023 tape.
"Last year, he had to do it, and then it would just be frustrating for him because he couldn't really go work on it. He had to just visualize and think about it and had to wait for that opportunity in training camp. This year, right away, it's been awesome for him to lead us through the whole offseason, just drill-wise and everything. He's been great to have for a first full offseason."
After losing the Super Bowl in February, Purdy took about a week off before refocusing on football. Then, he was itching to start working again.
"We got all the way to the end. We're right there and weren't able to finish it," Purdy said during the 49ers' "State of the Franchise" event. "So for me, I had that taste in my mouth, and then get back into the gym, start slowly, working into it. And then here, in OTAs, getting with Kyle and going over all the games that we played in, every play, and going over situational football and stuff, and taking that and actually going out on the field and running things and repping things, and throwing to the receivers.
"Last year, I didn't have that, so now that I'm able to attack those kinds of things, I feel like I've gotten better."
If Purdy's upcoming season is even close to his last, it will pay off significantly both on the field and in his bank account. As the last overall pick in the 2022 draft, Purdy signed a four-year rookie contract valued at $3.74 million. If he continues to perform well in 2024, he will negotiate an agreement to make him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history.
However, Purdy is not looking too far ahead. He prefers a one-day-at-a-time approach, focusing on the present rather than his impending contract.
"I'm trying to win this year and do everything I can for this organization this year," Purdy said in April. "Everything else happens how it happens. But for me, I need to get better from last year on the film and the things that I saw from last year. In my rookie year, I've got this thing in me where it's like, I want to continue to master my craft, and that's that.
"So it's a business, obviously, too. But for me, I love this game. I love just competing with these guys in this organization. I love this organization, and I want to continue to represent myself for them, and in the right way. So that's where I'm at with that. Getting too caught up in all that kind of stuff is, for me, that's nonsense. So taking it one day at a time and getting better."