Brock Purdy has climbed to the 11th spot in Mike Sando's 2026 QB Tiers for The Athletic, a three-spot improvement from the previous year, with NFL evaluators increasingly recognizing his capabilities beyond the eye test. Of the 50 coaches and executives surveyed, 34 placed him in Tier 2, 15 in Tier 3, and one even considered him a Tier 1 quarterback, his best voting average to date.
This rise follows a 2025 season that was hampered by a toe and shoulder injury, limiting Purdy to nine games. During that period, he accumulated 2,167 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, a notable decrease from his 2023 statistics of 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns. Despite the injury-affected season, evaluators noted that Purdy's performance transcended the numbers, with recurring descriptions pointing to skills exceeding initial perceptions. "Stronger than you think. Faster than you think. Better than you think," one defensive coach remarked.
Purdy's ability to anticipate plays allows him to effectively dissect defenses, a crucial trait given he does not possess the overwhelming arm strength of some peers. He identifies leverage points and releases the ball before receivers fully break open. "He can see it so fast, and he makes quick decisions," one head coach stated. "He’s more athletic than you think. Really good player."
These processing abilities have led to elite efficiency. Since entering the league in 2022, Purdy ranks first among quarterbacks with at least 500 regular-season attempts in EPA per play (0.179), success rate (52%), yards per attempt (8.64), and touchdown rate (6.21 percent). Since becoming the 49ers' full-time starter in 2023, the team ranks third in offensive EPA per play.
His willingness to attack downfield is another surprising aspect, particularly within Kyle Shanahan's offense. Purdy's average target depth is approximately 8 yards, ranking 18th among 50 qualifying quarterbacks. However, his passes have generated explosive gains of at least 20 yards on 13.4 percent of his attempts, a rate that leads the NFL by a significant margin over the same period. Compared to Jimmy Garoppolo in the same offense, Purdy has completed 55.5 percent of his throws traveling at least 15 yards, versus Garoppolo's 36.2 percent. He also averages 9.8 yards per play-action attempt, completing 72.1 percent of those passes.
While Garoppolo demonstrated the scheme's potential to elevate quarterbacks, Purdy has generated more explosive plays by attacking beyond initial reads and utilizing his mobility to extend plays. "The scramble game is awesome," an offensive coordinator noted. "He’s really hard to sack."
Purdy has averaged 7 yards across 85 career scrambles, with over a quarter of those gains exceeding 10 yards. Under pressure, he has completed 55.7 percent of his passes for an average of 6.9 yards per attempt. Nevertheless, limitations exist. One defensive coach observed that Purdy relies heavily on his lower body for throwing power, making his mechanics vital. Pressure can disrupt his footwork, and his aggression sometimes leads to turnovers. However, his anticipation compensates for an average arm, and his mobility provides Shanahan with options previously unavailable. He has completed 64.3 percent of his third-down passes, converting 42.2 percent into first downs.
The debate between system quarterback and individual talent presents a false dichotomy. Shanahan's scheme creates opportunities, and Purdy excels by quickly recognizing openings and creating when the designed play breaks down. "There’s things I do need to get better at, for sure, but I think there’s also things that I’ve seen myself do, and I just want to keep replicating," Purdy told Tim Kawakami.
Purdy has stated that winning, maintaining his teammates' trust, and executing correctly are more important than external criticism. "People can say what they want," Purdy said. "There’s always going to be that. That’s part of the sport. And honestly, that sort of makes it fun."
Despite a mild-mannered persona, Purdy possesses the anticipation, aggression, and athleticism that evaluators believe make him Shanahan's most effective quarterback to date. Some even suggest a surprising level of competitive bravado, with one coach quoted as saying Purdy talks "more s–t than you think."