With the San Francisco 49ers' season complete, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger joined Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game this week to share his assessment of quarterback Brock Purdy. While Baldinger stopped short of placing Purdy among the NFL's elite quarterbacks, he made it clear that the 49ers' signal-caller is more than capable—and an ideal fit for head coach Kyle Shanahan's offensive system.
"He's solid. He's really solid. He's really good," Baldinger said. "They went to Philadelphia and won a playoff game. All right, Wild Card Weekend. I mean, Philadelphia was a mess, but they (the 49ers) won the game. And then, you come back and put up that performance against Seattle."
"He's solid. He's really good… You're not gonna find anybody better than Brock. He is what he is. You gotta build around Brock. Things gotta get better around him."@BaldyNFL evaluates Brock Purdy's year pic.twitter.com/qSVIpA86R4
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) January 22, 2026
Last offseason, the 49ers reinforced their belief in Purdy by signing him to a five-year, $265 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL and cementing his status as the franchise's long-term answer at the position.
According to Baldinger, the path forward is about improving the pieces around Purdy.
"I mean, you're not going to upgrade," Baldinger said. "You're not going to find anyone better than Brock. He is what he is. You've got to build around Brock. Things have got to get better around him: defense, receivers, speed. You've identified this guy, you've paid him, [owner] Jed [York] made the right decision. He's good enough."
Baldinger also addressed the future of backup quarterback Mac Jones, who boosted his trade value after stepping in for an injured Purdy earlier this season. When asked whether the 49ers should consider trading Jones, Baldinger didn't hesitate.
"No, because Brock Purdy has an injury history," Baldinger said. "He's missed games. And so, I would not trade him. I would keep him there and just be my insurance policy. Maybe an expensive policy, but what are you going to get?
"Are you going to get a third-round pick for Mac Jones? Is that going to make a difference? Can you get a second-round pick? That's the highest you're probably going to get for Mac Jones right now."
For the 49ers, Baldinger's message was clear: Brock Purdy is good enough to win with. The priority now is ensuring the roster around him is strong enough to maximize his value.
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