A four-year starter at Iowa State, Purdy was the final selection in the 2022 draft and beat out Nate Sudfeld as Trey Lance’s backup during the preseason, before Jimmy Garoppolo’s unexpected reunion with the Niners pushed Purdy to third on the depth chart. Subsequent season-ending injuries to Lance and Garoppolo forced Purdy into action in Week 13 against the Dolphins, and he hasn’t looked back.
The 49ers are hoping to become the first NFL team with a rookie starting quarterback to reach the Super Bowl. Only six have reached a conference title game: Mark Sanchez, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Shaun King, Dieter Brock and Pat Haden. Two-thirds of those quarterbacks were unable to complete half of their passes during their teams’ postseason runs.
Russell Wilson may be the closest comparison to Purdy in recent history. Both quarterbacks were four-year starters in college who far outperformed their draft selection in surprising rookie seasons. Purdy may not have the same elite deep ball that Wilson had with Seattle, but both are undersized quarterbacks with excellent elusiveness and an impressive ability to keep their eyes downfield when a play breaks down.
Shanahan schemes receivers open as much as any play-caller in the league, and Purdy’s ability to extend plays has given opposing defenders an even more difficult task covering 49ers pass catchers. So far, Purdy’s aggressiveness has not cost San Francisco. The Cowboys will need to change that if they want to slow him down.
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