Mark Schlereth says Purdy’s not just a system guy—and with fewer weapons, a top-five season might prove it.
We still don’t have any news on the Brock Purdy/San Francisco 49ers extension being a done deal. So we can instead return to the realm of “is he or isn’t he” takes. Today, we start on a positive note with Fox Sports’ Mark Schlereth.
Schlereth has provided color commentary for several 49ers games, so he’s been familiar with Purdy and has spoken positively about the quarterback in the past. This, though, this takes it to another level. When he made his predictions for the 2025 season, Schlereth had this about Purdy:
“Brock Purdy proves he’s a top-five quarterback. Mark it down. Brock Purdy, when you look at Brock Purdy, one, from the neck up, decision-making. He gets through progressions like none other. And then yards-per-attempt. I don’t even know what that means, but he’s first in that. That means it’s good. Nerds love that stuff. I think you throw it deep all the time; passer rating, he’s second in the NFL since he came in to the National Football League. Yards: third; completion percentage: fifth.
“I mean, he is unbelievable. And everybody just wants to point to the fact that, ‘oh, they have so many weapons, they’re so good.’ He proves that it’s a lot about Brock Purdy and not as much about all the weapons around him, because they got rid of guys, they got rid of Deebo [Samuel]. They’ve got guys that are coming off of injury. Brock Purdy proves that he’s a top quarterback.”
Adding to Schereth’s comment about Purdy’s weapons, I love to bring up Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. When Williams was drafted in 2024, the consensus was that he was brought into a good situation, with what was set up for the Bears’ running game and wide receivers. They also made some additions to the offensive line.
The result wasn’t anything like Purdy’s rookie season. Despite all the talk about weapons and offensive line upgrades, Caleb Williams had a rough debut and spent most of it running for his life.
But when Purdy thrived as a rookie? The narrative was that he only looked good because of the weapons.
So which is it? Who benefits in these situations—the quarterback, or the system around him? And if the “weapons” are doing all the work, why didn’t they save Williams?
And sure, Purdy is good with weapons. You need weapons to have an offense. It’s a really interesting concept in the National Football League.
Back to Schereth’s comments. Purdy put up a stinker or two last year, but the rest of the team was crumbling around him due to injury. It also didn’t help matters when his defense couldn’t finish its way out of a wet paper bag. Sure, all quarterbacks will get injuries to their weapons, but Purdy couldn’t get any consistency with his, unless their name were Jauan Jennings.
Purdy’s season included a few games without Deebo, and then no Brandon Aiyuk at all. Just one setback after another. Saying he only struggled without top-tier talent suggests you probably didn’t watch the entire season.
Given the retooled defensive line and Brandon Aiyuk is the only player the 49ers will be waiting on to start the season (so far anyways), Purdy climbing back into the top-5 is very believable. Having a defense to carry him will help, too.
I mean, it worked for Patrick Mahomes.