Where Orlovsky ranks 49ers’ Purdy among top NFL QB traits originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s no secret that Brock Purdy was one of the best NFL quarterbacks in 2023, but was his eye-popping success in his first full season a product of his natural talent or the playmakers around him?
While Purdy has many weapons in coach Kyle Shanahan’s dominant offense, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky believes some of Purdy’s physical and mental traits are among the best in the league.
In his latest column, Orlovsky ranked Purdy among the 10 best at the position in these five areas:
Ball placement
Joe Burrow, Bengals
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Matthew Stafford, Rams
C.J. Stroud, Texans
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Geno Smith, Seahawks
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Jared Goff, Lions
Josh Allen, Bills
Mechanics
Joe Burrow, Bengals
Matthew Stafford, Rams
Justin Herbert, Chargers
C.J. Stroud, Texans
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Jared Goff, Lions
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Aaron Rodgers, Jets
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Decision-making with the football
Aaron Rodgers, Jets
Matthew Stafford, Rams
Joe Burrow, Bengals
C.J. Stroud, Texans
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Jordan Love, Packers
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Jared Goff, Lions
Kirk Cousins, Falcons
Pocket presence
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Joe Burrow, Bengals
C.J. Stroud, Texans
Matthew Stafford, Rams
Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Jordan Love, Packers
Josh Allen, Bills
Geno Smith, Seahawks
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Second-reaction ability
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Josh Allen, Bills
Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Brock Purdy, 49ers
Jordan Love, Packers
Caleb Williams, Bears
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Gardner Minshew, Raiders
Justin Herbert, Chargers
Purdy completed 308 of 444 pass attempts (69.4 percent) for 4,280 passing yards and 31 touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 2023.
The 24-year-old has been lauded for his quick decision-making, ball placement and improvability since he took over as San Francisco’s starter midway through the 2022 season, but it appears, as Orlovsky points out, that Purdy possesses even more impressive traits.
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