CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin recently examined the NFL landscape to identify the league's most overlooked and overhyped quarterbacks. While Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kyler Murray landed in the "overrated" category, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was among those labeled as "underrated," along with Jalen Hurts and Bo Nix.
Benjamin notes that the narrative around Purdy has evolved dramatically since he entered the NFL. Selected as the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy quickly became an unlikely sensation, bursting onto the scene to lead the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie.
However, over time, critics grew more vocal, arguing that Purdy's success stemmed more from head coach Kyle Shanahan's system and the talent surrounding him than from his own abilities.
"Then he was just a pawn of Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers attack," Benjamin wrote. "Critics got even more fuel in 2024, when the fragility of the 49ers' lineup finally exacerbated his struggles when playing from behind."
San Francisco endured a disappointing, injury-riddled 2024 campaign, finishing with a 6-11 record and in last within the NFC West standings. Purdy still delivered solid production last season, but not at the record-breaking level of his 2023 performance—and not enough to carry the team through a season filled with adversity.
The criticism has only intensified following the 49ers' decision to sign Purdy to a five-year, $265 million contract extension, making him one of the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks.
"Maybe he's not the prototype that is [Josh] Allen or [Lamar] Jackson," Benjamin added. "But Purdy is still the best, most dynamic, most collected quarterback of the Shanahan era, far more capable of extending and creating plays than many suggest."
Benjamin projects a strong rebound for Purdy in 2025, predicting top-10 production if the 49ers' supporting cast can stay healthy.