Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon recently highlighted five of the NFL's most polarizing players, and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy made the list. Despite an impressive start to his NFL career, Purdy still has his share of critics. Some believe the 25-year-old signal-caller is more a product of head coach Kyle Shanahan's system and the elite talent around him than an elite quarterback in his own right.

Among those skeptics is Gagnon, who questioned whether Purdy was truly worth the massive five-year, $265 million contract extension he signed this offseason. He suggested the 49ers may come to regret that investment.


Gagnon acknowledges Purdy's strengths but questions his ceiling


To his credit, Gagnon didn't ignore Purdy's achievements.

"He led all qualified passers with 4.9 air yards per pass attempt in 2024, so his highest-in-NFL-history (min. 1,000 attempts) passer rating of 104.9 can't be based solely on scheme and YAC," Gagnon noted.

However, Gagnon pointed to a troubling statistic that he considers a significant drawback in the evaluation of the quarterback: Purdy owns a career passer rating of just 70.8 in the fourth quarter of one-score games.

"Clutch is critical, and he hasn't had it," he added.

Injuries exposed Purdy in 2024?


After a breakout 2023 season in which Purdy threw for a franchise-record 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns, his numbers dipped in 2024. Injuries to key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams may have contributed to a less productive campaign. Purdy finished with 3,864 passing yards and just 20 touchdowns last season.


Gagnon believes the drop-off revealed Purdy's limitations when not surrounded by top-tier talent.

"It's also possible the league has begun to figure out a seventh-round pick who lacks the arm strength and velocity to become a consistent superstar and is also prone to untimely mistakes," Gagnon wrote. "The 49ers might regret that big new contract."

2025 will be crucial for Purdy


Purdy will look to silence his critics—including Gagnon—in 2025, as the 49ers aim to rebound from a disappointing 6-11 season and prove their quarterback can be a true difference-maker.

The good news for San Francisco is that key players like McCaffrey and Williams appear healthy heading into training camp, and the team is optimistic about getting Aiyuk back at some point during the season.

With a stronger supporting cast and renewed motivation, Purdy hopes to lead the 49ers back into playoff contention—and show he's worth every penny of the team's massive investment.

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