Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area isn't shocked that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was left off ESPN's list of the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks. Compiled by Jeremy Fowler, the annual rankings are based on votes from NFL executives, coaches, and scouts—and Purdy, unlike in 2024, didn't even earn an honorable mention this year.
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While the league may not yet view Purdy as an elite quarterback, Maiocco believes that if the rankings were based on how well quarterbacks fit within their respective offensive systems, Purdy would land near the top.
"I'll say this, kind of in defense of those people: I think Brock Purdy, if you were to list quarterbacks by systems that they're in, Brock Purdy would probably be top five—for the Kyle Shanahan system—based on what he puts on the plate of a quarterback, how important, shoulders up, in addition to all the other things," Maiocco said.
He continued: "I think when you're looking at those kinds of rankings, probably what general managers are looking at is how would I draft these guys based on performance, but also physical attributes."
Purdy is the ideal fit for Kyle Shanahan's offense
Still, few quarterbacks fit their system as seamlessly as Brock Purdy does in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Maiocco pointed out that Purdy's value becomes especially clear to those who work closely with him on a daily basis.
"There probably aren't too many quarterbacks who can probably perform at the level he does within this system," Maiocco added.
The 49ers are confident in Brock Purdy
Purdy likely isn't losing sleep over ESPN's snub. The 49ers made their stance clear this offseason by signing him to a massive five-year, $265 million contract extension, a move that speaks louder than any ranking.
Whether or not Purdy gets national recognition, he has the complete confidence of the 49ers. The team believes he will continue to thrive as the perfect quarterback for Shanahan's offensive system.
You can listen to Maiocco's entire interview below.