What makes San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy so special? The guy keeps winning football games. While skeptics point to his strong supporting cast and one of the best systems in the league as the reason for his early success, former NFL quarterback and current analyst Alex Smith believes it goes beyond that.
During an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," Smith highlighted how much focus is placed on physical attributes during quarterback evaluations. However, he believes the traditional analysis is flawed, and Purdy proves that.
"For Purdy, I think he's got the most courage in the pocket than anybody in the NFL," Smith declared. "This guy stands in there and takes hits, and he is just unflinching. His focus downfield never wavers. It's a gift of his."
Purdy has started 22 regular-season games with an 18-4 record and is 4-2 in the postseason, leading the 49ers to two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl in the past two seasons.
On Monday night, while attention was on Aaron Rodgers' return from injury, Purdy quietly completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 231 yards against the New York Jets, earning the game's highest offensive grade from Pro Football Focus.
"Obviously, he's accurate, but I think that poise and courage is something that, again, how do you quantify it?" Smith continued. "And we're so caught up in size and speed and arm strength and hand size and s--t like that. And, again, none of that stuff really, I think, matters. This guy can play ball, and he's been playing ball at a high level for a long time. And yet, again, he falls to the last pick in the draft. How does that happen? ... He's a baller.
"I don't know how you don't turn on the film the last couple of years and see what he's doing week in and week out. I know it's a good situation, but there's not a good quarterback in the NFL that's not in a good situation. So I'm a huge fan of Brock's. I think he's a huge reason why they're so good and going to continue to be good."
"I think Brock Purdy has more courage in the pocket than anybody in the NFL..
He stands in there and takes his hits..
His focus downfield never wavers and he's been playing ball at a high level for a long time"
Alex Smith #PMSLive #FTTB pic.twitter.com/cA68Butcoy
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 11, 2024