Debate continues to swirl around where San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ranks among his NFL peers—even after the 25-year-old agreed to a five-year, $265 million extension that makes him one of the league's highest-paid players. Media pundits remain divided over whether Purdy is worth such a significant investment.
Pro Football Focus' (PFF) John Kosko recently ranked all 32 of the NFL's starting quarterbacks heading into the 2025 season, organizing them into tiers. Unsurprisingly, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes landed at No. 1 in the "elite" tier. Joining him in that group were Joe Burrow (Bengals), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), and Josh Allen (Bills).
The next tier, labeled "high-end starters," featured four quarterbacks: Jalen Hurts (Eagles), Jayden Daniels (Commanders), Matthew Stafford (Rams), and Justin Herbert (Chargers).
Kosko's third tier, titled "Solid starters who have flashed high-end play," began at No. 9 and included Jared Goff (Lions), Geno Smith (Raiders), and finally, Brock Purdy at No. 11.
"Purdy may be a product of the system and surrounding talent, but he's still led one of the NFL's most efficient offenses over the past three seasons," Kosko wrote. "His play dipped slightly in 2024 as the 49ers battled injuries across the offensive line and receiving corps, yet he still posted the league's top success rate over the past two years, alongside a seventh-best 90.0 PFF grade."
Purdy had a breakout season in 2023, setting a single-season franchise record with 4,280 passing yards while tossing 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. However, his production declined in 2024, finishing with 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The 49ers won just six games and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
That downturn fueled the ongoing debate about whether Purdy can elevate a team when key playmakers are injured, and whether he deserves to be paid like an elite quarterback.
Purdy's new $53 million annual salary ties him with Goff as the NFL's seventh-highest-paid player. He is set to earn more annually than Jackson, Hurts, Stafford, and Herbert—all of whom Kosko ranks above him.
Did Kosko rank Purdy fairly? Too high? Too low? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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