With San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy entering the final year of his rookie deal, NFL members in and around the league continue to discuss the young QB. Off the heels of his worst NFL season, doubt has been pouring down on the former Mr. Irrelevant from the 2022 NFL Draft.
Legendary NFL RB Throws Shade on 49ers QB
Following the 6-11 collapse by the 49ers, all eyes are on the fourth-year pro Purdy. With a few key pieces leaving on both sides of the ball, is the Iowa State talent enough to carry San Francisco across the finish line? Two-time Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy doesn’t think so as he debated with members of “The Facility.”
.@CutOnDime25 explains why Brock Purdy is not a Top 10 NFL QB:
“He hasn’t won a Super Bowl nor is an elite QB.” pic.twitter.com/2nEPFFvlT2
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) April 2, 2025
While debating whether Purdy is a top-10 NFL QB, McCoy gave his two cents as to why he sees Purdy as good but not elite.
“No, he’s not a top 10,” said McCoy. “We all love Brock Purdy. Real quick for all the viewers out there because y’all think I be hating on some players, and I don’t. You can be a really good player and not be elite. You could be a really good player and not be top 10. There is nothing wrong with that. There are more players that’s not top 10 in their position than there are.”
McCoy followed up by discussing Purdy’s college career and how where he played contributes to his level of play in the NFL.
“Did you ever see players in college that have all these great stats?” asked McCoy. “All these great passing yards, all these great rushing touchdowns, all this great stuff, and then the guys like Hawaii quarterbacks, guys that put a lot of stats up, why they never get drafted or they seventh-round draft picks? Because their talent is not like that. Brock Purdy, to me, I don’t think he’s super talented. That’s why he went late in the draft.”
As the six-time Pro Bowler continued, he focused his take on the state of the 49ers and how Purdy’s supporting cast has significantly impacted his play.
“Then it comes to the Niners, and he proved a lot of people wrong,” said McCoy. “Like, I am better than what you thought I was. Maybe I am not as talented, but I am better than what you thought I was.”
McCoy continued, “Something the owner just said, he said, ‘Brock’s a top 10 quarterback. When you combine him with Kyle Shanahan, when you combine him with the team, he’s a top 10 quarterback.’ I don’t mind that take. ‘Cause now you adding the coach, you adding the player, you adding all of that.”
The 2013 rushing leader compared Purdy’s first two seasons to 2024 in terms of success and the teammates around him.
“I look at the stats. In 2022, he had seven All-Pros,” said McCoy. “In 2023, he had seven All-Pros and he was 13-4 and 12-5. NFC Championship game, Super Bowl, makes sense. In 2024, he had three All-Pros, no playoffs, no NFC Championship game, no Super Bowl, 6-11.”
“Oh, it makes sense—a guy that’s not as talented that went with the last pick of the draft, because of his talent. Goes to a good team, combine him with a really good coach, you combine him with All-Pros, they win games.”
As McCoy continued, he explained what he believes it takes to be a top-10 NFL QB.
“I look at top 10 as super elite talent, or you a winner that wins Super Bowls,” said McCoy. “Brock Purdy does not fit in that category. When we talk about elite guys, elite guys I could drop anywhere on this planet, anywhere on any team, and you gonna produce. I can’t say that about Brock Purdy.”
The Eagles icon saw the injury-ridden 49ers of 2024 as Purdy’s chance to prove his value. To McCoy, the three-time All-Big 12 QB didn’t take it.
“I thought already, like most people thought, he has to be around a good supporting cast,” said McCoy. “When you take that supporting cast from around him, what does he give you? He gave you 6-11 and no playoffs. So when you talk about putting a guy top 10 and paying him that type of money, that’s how the issues happen. The issue with him is you wanna get paid top-three money, and you not really top-three, top-four, top-five.”
McCoy’s co-host Chase Daniel chimed in, claiming Purdy is a winner, going 17-4 his first two seasons in San Francisco. McCoy stood by his take.
“What I’m saying is, for you to be considered a winner—we’re talking about winning some games, that’s cute,” said McCoy. “Either you win Super Bowls ’cause you a winner, or you elite-of-the-elite talent. And I don’t think he fit in either of them categories.”
Purdy’s Positioning on PFSN QB+ Metric Compared to McCoy’s Evaluation
Contrary to McCoy’s belief, PFSN has Purdy in the top 10 QBs of 2024 in the QB+ metric. His 87.6 (B+) grade ranks him higher than quarterbacks such as Jayden Daniels, Patrick Mahomes and Sam Darnold. Ben Rolfe discussed what made the third-year QB’s season so impressive despite the poor record.
“For the 2024 season, Purdy finished fifth in the league in overall EPA/DB (0.17) and fourth when playing under pressure (-0.08 EPA/DB), while sitting sixth when playing from a clean pocket (0.33 EPA/DB). Despite all the injuries around him, Purdy still averaged 8.1 nYPA (third) and a 44.3% conversion rate on third downs (eighth).
“His touchdown-to-interception rate of 1.7 was a disappointment, thanks largely to his TD rate falling through the floor from 7.6 as a rookie and 7.0 in 2023 to 4.4 this season. That is not entirely on Purdy, given all the 49ers’ injuries this season, but it does paint the picture that he’s a product of the players surrounding him more so than a truly elite QB.”
As Purdy continues to negotiate his next deal, is he closer than some think to being a top-10 NFL QB? Or is McCoy correct in saying it’s what surrounds Purdy that has given him success so far?