Brock Purdy has been a subject of controversy this season, as the NFL world has debated just how good he is amid a productive year for the San Francisco 49ers. The second-year quarterback has put up big numbers in 2023, distributing the ball deftly to San Francisco’s bevy of playmakers — and one of his teammates has taken notice.
Chase Young Says Brock Purdy Is ‘Best Quarterback in the League’
Defensive lineman Chase Young, who joined the 49ers via a midseason trade with the Washington Commanders, had high praise for Purdy during Wednesday’s media availability. Young complimented Purdy’s kindness and confidence before making a bold claim about the quarterback to media members.
“Best quarterback in the league,” Young said. “Happy he’s on my team.”
Purdy has certainly been among the league’s top quarterbacks by production this season, completing 69.4% of his pass attempts for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his first year as San Francisco’s full-time starter.
He ranks fifth in the NFL in passing yards and third in touchdown passes with his average of 9.6 yards per pass attempt tops among any quarterbacks close to him in yardage or touchdowns.
Delivering that level of production for the NFC’s top team and one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl has thrust Purdy into the MVP conversation. Still, some critics have poked holes in his production and laid more credit on San Francisco’s collection of elite playmakers.
Christian McCaffrey has been a difference-maker as usual, both running and receiving, with 1,459 rushing yards for 14 touchdowns and 564 receiving yards for seven more scores. Brandon Aiyuk leads the team in receiving with 1,342 yards and seven scores, while George Kittle and Deebo Samuel have been lethal as well.
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It’s all amounted to plenty of debate around just how good Purdy has been this season and whether he would truly be deserving of the MVP award compared to other star quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen — or even his teammate, McCaffrey.
It’s a debate Purdy wants no part of, however. He made his mentality on comparison clear in an interview with 49ers’ legend Steve Young on Wednesday.
“My mindset is, I try to hold this all loosely,” Purdy said. “Not try to hold onto, ‘I need to be the guy or the starter in the NFL,’ this and that. The more you think like that, the more you start comparing yourself to guys like that. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen — those guys are great, but I’m not them, and they’re not me. I know who I am.
“That’s allowed me to not put all this pressure on myself. It’s allowed me to play free. It’s allowed me to live my life and keep things simple.”
It’s a mindset that has served Purdy well throughout his standout sophomore season, one that has fueled plenty of success for San Francisco ahead of the start of its playoff run on Saturday, when the 49ers square off with the Green Bay Packers.
Purdy will look to simply continue being him and propel the 49ers to their third straight appearance in the NFC Championship Game as the franchise remains in pursuit of its first Super Bowl championship since the 1994 season.
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