Maxx Crosby is demanding more respect for Brock Purdy. Despite playing for different teams, Crosby believes Purdy is misunderstood by many.
Speaking on the NFL channel for the 2025-26 edition of the league's top 100 players, Crosby explained that analysts and fans write him off because he plays in Kyle Shanahan's quarterback-friendly system, surrounded by stars like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk.
Despite their presence, Crosby feels Purdy makes the 49ers offense tick.
Anybody that gets in that Niners system, people find a way to discredit them just because of how good Kyle Shanahan is and they've always had a lot of talent around him, but you've seen Brock in his own right make some plays and do certain things that are not just system-quarterback type plays. He's one of the better young quarterbacks in the league, man. He's talented and you see that with how great that offense is able to operate.
Maxx Crosby said via 49ers content creator Coach Yac on X.Bobby Kownack, the curator of the NFL Top 100 players list, agrees with Crosby. Per Kownack, Purdy is the 85th-best player in the league. However, Kownack noted that Purdy is that far down because he didn't play the entire season.
[Brock] Purdy would likely rank far higher had he not missed eight games last season due to a toe injury. There was little opponents could do to stop him once he was healthy again in Week 11, evidenced by San Francisco scoring 37 or more points in four of its seven regular-season games following his return. He has established himself as one of the league's most entertaining signal-callers, equipped with an uncanny knack for buying time to make big last-second plays. At his best — which he often is — Purdy gives the 49ers a Super Bowl ceiling.
Purdy started 2025 by signing a mammoth five-year, $265 million contract extension. In week one, he suffered a shoulder injury, forcing him to miss the next few games.
Purdy registered a 7-2 record from 9 starts, completing 69% of his passes, 2167 yards, 23 total touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
In the Wildcard round, Purdy threw a couple of interceptions. However, the 49ers did enough to win the game 23-19. In the divisional fixture, Seattle handed the 49ers a 41-6 defeat.
The 49ers made a bold move by signing free agent Mac Jones. Jones fell off the NFL QB elite list following his departure from New England, and his destiny led him to Jacksonville and then to California.
Jones' turn for his 49ers debut came as early as Week 2 against the Saints. Jones completed 26 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns to secure a 26-21 road victory.
I think just how efficient he was at quarterback… He manages the game so well and won games at a high level doing it. So definitely learned that component from him.
Brock Purdy said about Mac Jones at the Tight End University meet (H/T 49ers Webzone)By the time Jones won his third game, some folks started debating whether playing Jones is the better option than Purdy. It made sense because Jones is a first-round draft pick, while Purdy was taken last in 2022. The gulf of talent between them is vast.
However, Purdy proved that scouts make mistakes. Before 2025, he went to two NFC title games, played in a Super Bowl, and received a Pro Bowl invitation in 2023.
When he recovered enough to start again, Shanahan reinstated him to the QB1 spot. Rather than expressing disappointment, Jones supported Shanahan's decision, reminding everyone that he was signed as Purdy's backup.
Jones finished with a 5-3 record. He completed 69% of his passes for 2151 yards, threw 13 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. His contract with the Niners ends after the 2026-27 season.
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