Another narrative that holds no weight
On Thursday, pictures of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy surfaced of him training in Ponte Vedra, Florida. From the looks of it, the 24-year-old has added some muscle since the offseason:
If you zoom in on the first picture, you can get a good glimpse of Purdy’s scar from last year’s surgery on his elbow.
Speaking of last year, Purdy silenced most of the narratives surrounding him. Some believed he was a one-year wonder, but he followed his half-season by finishing second in the NFL in completion percentage, third in touchdown passes, and fifth in passing yardage. The most skeptical doubters didn’t have much to critique about the second-year quarterback.
If you were to deny Purdy’s value to the 49ers, the discourse surrounding him would be that he played in an offense where he didn’t have to do a lot of heavy lifting. Analysts and opposing fans were quick to say, “Who couldn’t do that with those weapons?!”
It’s important to understand the unique role that Purdy plays in the 49ers’ offense. He’s not just a quarterback, he’s a gunslinger—a risk-taker. His style of play is exactly what the 49ers need to maximize the potential of their wideouts. Last year, the biggest difference in the offense was the quarterback’s aggressive approach, pushing the ball down the field.
According to Sharp Football Stats, San Francisco was fifth in total distance of air yards of all touchdown passes thrown in 2023. Here’s a look at the top 10:
Miami Dolphins – 423
Dallas Cowboys – 421
New Orleans – 410
Minnesota Vikings – 405
San Francisco 49ers – 392
Philadelphia Eagles – 367
Detroit Lions – 363
Buffalo Bills – 343
Houston Texans – 332
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 328
It will be interesting to see how the 49ers’ offense maintains or changes from year to year, with Purdy having an entire offseason. Health is critical, but there’s little reason to believe the team cannot sustain their success under Kyle Shanahan.