New teammate stirs debate: 49ers make it ‘easy’ for Brock Purdy to play QB

New San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jack Jones pushed back on the idea that his position is only the second-toughest on the field. In doing so, he pointed to new teammate Brock Purdy—sparking backlash from fans and content creators who took exception to the example.

Purdy continues to battle a familiar narrative: that the 49ers quarterback is more a product of Kyle Shanahan's system than a true difference-maker. The debate hasn't faded, and Jones' recent comments have only added fuel.

Appearing on the Caps Off podcast, Jones argued that offensive scheme and surrounding talent can simplify the quarterback position—using Purdy as his example.

He probably isn't earning any points with The Faithful from the comparison, especially since he defended a take previously voiced by former NFL quarterback Cam Newton, who argued that Purdy is a game manager.

"You can make quarterback easy to play, and I think that was Cam Newton's argument about Brock Purdy," Jones said. "They was making quarterback easy for him to play. You can hand the ball off 20 times to Christian McCaffrey, and then dump it off 10 times to Christian McCaffrey, and then dump it off 10 more times to George Kittle.

"So now, it's like, 'Wow, he has these crazy stats,' but he haven't did anything."

Jones later clarified that his comments weren't meant as a direct shot at Purdy, but made it clear that the 49ers quarterback isn't on the same level as several other elite passers.

"This is no knock on Brock Purdy," he added. "I just used him as an example because Cam Newton brought that up. They can make quarterback easy, but at the same time, quarterback can be hard. Maybe like a Tom Brady or a Pat Mahomes—or even Aaron Rodgers, somebody who's really dissecting the defense and making passes downfield, and making hole shots. Now, it's a different level."

Jones argues that playing quarterback can be made easier with the right scheme and playmakers around you. He believes the same can't be said for the cornerback position.

Purdy is entering his fifth NFL season. Last year, the 49ers made him one of the highest-paid players in the league, signaling full confidence in their franchise quarterback. His 2025 campaign was disrupted by a turf toe injury that limited him to nine games. Still, he was a significant factor down the stretch, guiding San Francisco into the playoffs despite a roster hit hard by injuries.