49ers overreactions: Should Brock Purdy start despite Mac Jones' success?

It’s not as if Brock Purdy will be riding to the rescue.The 49ers are a team with some glaring issues, coming off their 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. But quarterback play is not one of their problems.Mac Jones has done a commendable job as the 49ers’ starter. The 49ers are 5-3 in those games, and none of those losses can be placed on his shoulders.On Sunday, the 49ers had to resort to blitzing on more than half of the Rams’ pass plays. And they still could not get significant pressure on Matthew Stafford. The coverage was not very good, and the defense looked extremely vulnerable.The 49ers’ offense moved the ball, but came up short early in the game with a turnover on downs and a lost fumble.Now, the 49ers appear close to clearing Purdy for a return to action.So what should the 49ers do? Do they stick with Jones until he cools off or go back to Purdy without even blinking?This is 49ers Overreactions …It doesn’t matter how well Mac Jones has done. When Brock Purdy is healthy enough, he should be the starting QB. (&commat;shoqmax)Overreaction? No.This is not an overreaction because you just outlined the 49ers’ plan, as coach Kyle Shanahan explained it last week.“This is Brock’s team, and if Brock’s good to go and can play like Brock, there’s no decision to be made,” Shanahan said.It is going to be very difficult for Purdy to perform at the level that Jones established in his eight starts this season.Tom Brady and Richard Sherman are among those espousing the “hot hand” theory of sticking with Jones for a while.And we get it. Jones this season has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 97.4. He has filled in admirably with Purdy sidelined with his turf toe injury.Last year, Purdy completed 65.9 percent for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a rating of 96.1. His numbers from last year and Jones’ stats for this year are similar.Said George Kittle of Purdy, “I think people just kind of forget how good he is because Mac Jones is playing so well, and people forget why we paid him money.”There is no doubt within the organization that Purdy is the 49ers’ starter. The only question revolves around when he will be healthy enough to perform up to the level that earned him the &dollar;265 million contract in the first place.If the #49ers had made a move for at least one DE at the trade deadline it would’ve made the difference in this game and will do over the course of the remaining games. (&commat;CoachDooneyR90)Overreaction? Yes.The 49ers acquired defensive lineman Keion White from the New England Patriots a week before the NFL trade deadline. Last week, a few deals went down but the 49ers were not involved.The Philadelphia Eagles sent a third-round pick to the Miami Dolphins to have defensive end Jaelan Phillips on the team for the second half of the season. There’s more than a little risk there, as Phillips tore his Achilles in 2023 and appeared in just four games last year. In nine games this year, he has three sacks.The Chicago Bears acquired defensive end Joe Tryon from the Cleveland Browns for the same price the 49ers paid for White. It was Tryon and a seventh-round pick to Chicago for a sixth. Tryon does not have a sack in nine games this year.Although he is not a defensive end, Quinnen Williams got a hefty return for the New York Jets from the Dallas Cowboys, who traded Mazi Smith, a second in 2026 and a first in 2027.Around the NFL, the asking prices were deemed too high for Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and the Jets’ Jermaine Johnson. Hendrickson has been limited by a hip injury. It probably would not have been wise for the 49ers to pay a steep price to acquire an injured player. And Johnson has been largely ineffective after sustaining a torn Achilles early in the 2024 season.So while it’s fun to second-guess and declare that the 49ers should have made another trade before the deadline, it is much more difficult to identify any move that would have made much of a difference.The Niners will draft 3 defensive players in their first 3 picks in the 2026 draft (again), this time focusing on more edge help (2 players), and safety. (&commat;realchrisabreu)Overreaction? No.While there are other areas that the 49ers can address in the offseason, such as offensive line and wide receiver, there is no doubt that they have to bring in more talented pass-rushers.The 49ers rank dead last in the NFL in sacks (12 in 10 games). Assuming Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams come back next season at full strength, that will help. But they need a lot more than just those two players.Saleh draws little to no HC interest and remains with us next season. (&commat;DarthRanner)Overreaction? Yes.Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will get considerable interest for head-coaching vacancies. But we agree there is a good chance he remains with the 49ers for the 2026 season.So many teams this offseason will be seeking an offensive-minded head coach to develop a young quarterback. And the major area in which the New York Jets struggled during Saleh’s tenure was at the quarterback position.Jed York needs to focus on winning his first Super Bowl as an owner and not have his focus on Leeds United. (&commat;Jzarco97)Overreaction? Yes.Jed York, CEO of the 49ers for the past 15 years, leaves the football decisions to the football people, primarily, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.The 49ers’ willingness to spend money certainly is not the issue. The 49ers rank fourth in the NFL in cash spending this season, according to Spotrac, paying players &dollar;52 million over the salary cap.Last year, the 49ers were second in the NFL in cash spending. And from 2018 to ’23, the 49ers ranked seventh, third, fifth, fifth, 19th and sixth in spending. They also have one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaching staffs.Yes, the 49ers have business interests with Leeds United and Rangers FC. But there is no evidence to suggest their involvement in European soccer has impacted the 49ers in any way when they are consistently near the top of the NFL in team spending.Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

49ers overreactions: Should Brock Purdy start despite Mac Jones’ success?

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