Many things have been said about Brock Purdy since he became a starter for the 49ers. “He is a game-manager, not a game-changer,” “He’s only successful because he’s surrounded by great weapons,” being a few examples. But as the signal-caller recently pointed out, you “never hear anybody say ‘Does this guy inspire his teammates?”
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Despite managing a 23-13 record as a starter throughout the first three seasons of his NFL career, Purdy tends to see his name excluded when conversations about quality QB play are brought up. However, John Middlekauff sees the potential in the 25-year-old.
The former NFL scout and host of 3 & Out discussed Purdy’s unseen impact on the San Francisco locker room, and compared him to some of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. In noting that some of the best quarterbacks, such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning, were all reminiscent of “Mel Gibson leading the troops,” Middlekauff suggested that Purdy was very much capable of doing the same.
“I’ll never forget that… Guys like Fred Warner, people on defense, and Nick Bosa, they had been practicing against him because he was the scout team quarterback. They talk about him like he had been a five-year NFL pro. I don’t think Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, I’ve watched these guys’ careers; they don’t just throw around this. He is really good in the locker room with his guys,” he said on the Colin Cowherd Podcast.
Suggesting that “there’s just something about him” that allows him to build rapport with his teammates, Middlekauff argued that, at least in that regard, Purdy is very much on the same level as Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. While his on-field performances might leave a bit to be desired, it is hard to replicate those kinds of social abilities.
In recalling his trip to Super Bowl LVIII, the former scout mentioned that even Deebo Samuel, one of the more controversial members of the 49ers roster, had nothing but praise for Purdy throughout their flight.
“I was on a plane flight going to the Super Bowl with Deebo Samuel, who at the time was asking for a trade, the way he spoke about him. He loves Brock.”
Purdy may not be the most popular QB in the league, but he is certainly loved by his teammates. Purdy’s likeability in the locker room stands in direct contrast to those of Russell Wilson and Cam Newton. At least, according to Colin Cowherd.
In an attempt to highlight the importance of a quarterback’s ability to instill confidence in his players, Cowherd argued that neither Russell nor Newton ever proved to be a competent leader of men.
Wilson and Newton “aged very very quickly”
The longstanding face of Fox Sports Radio noted that the two QBs’ athletic fall off directly coincided with the downfall of their ability to command respect from a locker room.
“Russell, the minute he got out of his athletic prime, he couldn’t do it on motivation and inspiration. He did it on elusiveness, and the minute that was gone, he aged very very quickly. I think there’s something to that. I think Cam Newton had a little bit of that, where Cam was sort of about Cam, and once he was out of his prime, wow he aged very very quickly.”
Cowherd seems to be suggesting that Wilson and Newton could’ve enjoyed better longevity in the league even after they had aged past their prime had they been able to cultivate a culture of trust and camaraderie in the locker room.
Considering that neither the Seahawks nor the Panthers have yet to rebound from their aforementioned signal callers, perhaps the 49ers should reconsider Purdy’s importance to the locker room before continuing their negotiations. For a franchise that is currently trying its best to extend its championship window, a dramatic change at the QB position could potentially ruin the chemistry of a team that is already on the brink of being forced to start over.
With the current value of Purdy’s expected contract extension being projected at $239 million over the next four years, the Iowa State product stands to make an approximate yearly salary of $59.7 million. While there’s no such thing as a cheap QB option in the NFL, the 49ers currently enjoy the fifth largest amount of room in cap space at the moment.
Simply put, the team wants him, and the franchise has the means to pay him, but it is purely on the front office as to whether or not Purdy will stay in San Francisco for the foreseeable future.
