One of the most critical parts of being a good NFL quarterback is winning the locker room, making sure teammates believe in whoever commands the huddle. Just days away from his first major NFL action, San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft at No. 262, has achieved the feat.
Iowa State’s seventh-round draft pick replaced Jimmy Garoppolo, who left the match with a foot injuryand he played admirably: completing 25 of 37 passes for 210 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the 49ers’ 33-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Week 14 marks Purdy’s first time going through a week of practice with the starters, but according to his teammates, he’s already communicating as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, five-time league MVP. NFL and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning.
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“You’d think he’s been in the league for 15 years,” said All-Pro 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, via NFL media. “If you talk, he’ll say ‘shut the fuck up’. He’s not a shy newbie getting by. He’s going to take your ass. You’d think he’s like Peyton Manning or something.”
Like Manning at the end of his career, Purdy’s passes didn’t travel very far on Sunday, but they got the job done in key places. His average pass length was 5.4 yards in the field, which would be the shortest by any qualified quarterback all season. However, Purdy completed 11 of 13 throws on third down for 81 yards and a touchdown, which equates to a passer rating of 118.3. It would be the fourth-highest passer rating for third in the NFL this season behind only Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins (137.8), Joe Burrow of the Bengals (124.1) and Geno Smith of the Seahawks (122.0).
Being able to distribute the football to playmakers like running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk puts Purdy in the perfect position to play game manager. That’s a huge advantage for the rookie as he won’t have to lift too many loads on his own while taking on Manning’s arch-rival Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week.