ESPN's Dan Orlovsky has made it clear that he holds San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in high regard, as evidenced by his latest quarterback rankings. Orlovsky assessed several critical quarterback traits, examined the NFL landscape, and placed Purdy in several prominent categories.
Although Purdy didn't crack the top 10 for arm strength, he was ranked in multiple other areas that highlight his abilities. Purdy earned the No. 6 spot for ball placement, No. 9 for mechanics, No. 5 for decision-making with the football, No. 6 for pocket presence, and No. 4 for second-reaction ability.
Orlovsky explained the distinction between accuracy and ball placement, noting that ball placement goes beyond simply hitting the target—it's about ensuring the football is kept away from defenders as well. Purdy ranked behind Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, and C.J. Stroud in this category.
"I wrestled with Purdy being sixth behind Stroud, rather than higher on the list," Orlovsky admitted. "He led the league in completion rate last season (68.7%) and does a great job layering the ball into his receiver's strike zone."
Orlovsky also found it challenging to rank Purdy in the pocket presence category, where the 49ers quarterback trailed the same players again, though in a slightly different order. The analyst described pocket presence as a quarterback's ability to operate effectively in the pocket, even when chaos erupts around him—an area in which Purdy has consistently excelled.
"This is another category in which I wondered whether I put Purdy too low at No. 6," Orlovsky wrote. "His work in the pocket has stood out going back to when he became the 49ers' starter in 2022, and he trailed only Prescott in QBR from inside the pocket last season (72.7)."
Although Purdy didn't make the top 10 for rushing ability, Orlovsky acknowledged that the 49ers quarterback was on his radar and could potentially climb into the rankings next year.
Orlovsky's rankings highlight a growing respect for Purdy's skill set and potential. As Purdy continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how he progresses in these categories, continuing to prove doubters wrong and solidifying his place among the NFL's elite quarterbacks.