NFL Draft Notebook: Did Brock Purdy Earn Starting Quarterback Role Going Forward?

The magical ride of Brock Purdy came to a disappointing end on Sunday. In the first quarter of the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Purdy injured his shoulder, and while he returned late in the game to mainly hand the ball off, he was never the same. Now that the Niners season is in the books, the main question has become: can the 2022 NFL Draft steal lead San Francisco into 2023 and beyond?

In addition to looking at Brock Purdy, this week’s article also highlights the following:

• Most Pressing Need for the Seattle Seahawks
• Top Wide Receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft
• A Linebacker Fit for the New York Giants
• And Much More!

The Story of Brock Purdy

One of the best stories this NFL season was the play of 49ers rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy went from last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to leading the San Francisco 49ers to this year’s NFC Championship game. However, the question now is: can Purdy be the long-term answer at quarterback or is he destined for the bench next season?

Coming off a stellar college career where he set 30 Iowa State records, Brock Purdy had an uphill climb to becoming an NFL quarterback. First, he didn’t earn a trip to the Senior Bowl and instead played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Purdy then had an average showing at the NFL Combine where he posted a 4.84 40-yard dash and also posted a poor 27-inch vertical jump. This lack of elite NFL physical traits led to one NFL team saying they had no interest in him as a prospect.

When it came time for draft day Purdy saw eight quarterbacks and 261 players go ahead of him. The pick only received average reviews by NFL Draft pundits. ESPN noted that there was a good chance he would only be an arm in training camp. Niners Nation also noted the team would have been better off by taking quarterback Carson Strong with this pick.

Going into training camp, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s plan for Purdy was for him to be on the practice squad as they were comfortable with Nate Sudfield being the team’s third-string quarterback. However, Purdy started to turn heads during preseason by completing 61 percent of his passes and lobbing one touchdown. His performance in the team’s three preseason games was enough for Purdy to win the third-string job.

During the first couple weeks of the season, Purdy saw limited action and was not active for most of the team’s early games. However, things changed when both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo had season-ending injuries.

In his first significant action of the year, Purdy led the 49ers to an impressive 33-17 victory over the playoff-bound Miami Dolphins. He followed that up with perhaps his best game of the year against Tampa Bay, where he completed a season-high 76 percent of his passes and tossed two touchdowns.

Overall, during the regular season, Purdy completed 67 percent of his passes while throwing 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also posted a 107.3 QB rating which was almost two points higher than any other quarterback during that time. In his three postseason games this year, Purdy completed over 60 percent of his passes in each game and threw 3 touchdowns without a single interception.

When looking at the traits that have allowed Purdy to have such an impressive rookie season, the first positive that stands out is his high football IQ. He has done a terrific job of learning a tough NFL offense and even was able to grasp the pre-snap motion San Francisco loves to run with Garoppolo. Purdy does well to take what defenses give him instead of trying to force balls into tight coverage, which we often see with young quarterbacks.

Two other traits stand out with Purdy as well. The first one is his athletic ability. While Purdy will never be confused for Lamar Jackson, he does have the mobility to maneuver the pocket or take off and run when needed. The other trait is his ball placement. When he is able to set up in the pocket he consistently hits his receivers in stride which allows them to pick up yards after contact.

The biggest concern with Purdy is his lack of elite arm strength. While his lack of arm strength has been minimized by playing in good weather conditions most of the season, and in a 49ers offense that focuses mainly on the short-to-medium passing game, this is still a limitation. Another concern is when he throws off balance his accuracy drops significantly. Purdy has also thrown several passes that are turnover-worthy plays.

While there is no doubt Purdy had a terrific year this, the questions around his future with the 49ers have just begun. This is a big mystery as Trey Lance will be healthy next year, and the team has invested a ton in the former No. 3 overall pick.

There is also a small chance the team could bring back Jimmy Garoppolo or add a veteran quarterback like Tom Brady. My guess is the team will have Purdy and Lance battle it out for the starting job in training camp next season, and that Purdy ends up winning the job.

Seattle Seahawks Must Address Run Defense

One of the biggest surprise teams this year was the Seattle Seahawks, who many people projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. However, Pete Carroll’s crew finished 9-8 and made the playoffs before losing in round one. However, if they are going to take the next step forward, the front office must address the run defense, which ranked 30th in the NFL last year.

One area the team must upgrade in order to improve its run defense is the defensive line, starting with the defensive tackle position. The team finished with Al Woods starting at nose tackle, but he will be 36 next year, Seattle could also lose Poona Ford, who is scheduled to be a free agent, and is coming off a disappointing year.

One player the team could pick with the No. 5 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft is Bryan Bresee of Clemson. However, with a slew of draft picks in tow, the Seahawks could wait until the second round and add USC superstar Tuli Tuipulotu if they choose to go that route.

Another area the Seahawks must address to upgrade their run defense is at middle linebacker. Starting middle linebacker Jordyn Brooks suffered a torn ACL at the end of the 2022 season, and the team has little behind him. While it is unlikely Seattle will spend a first- or even second-round pick at this position, look for them to add a free agent or mid-round draft pick at this spot.

One player who could make sense is Iowa’s Jack Campbell; he is an elite run defender and should be available in the third round. If the Seahawks can address these positions, as well as add a few pass rushers, look for them to build off an impressive 2022 season.

Top Five Wide Receivers in the 2023 NFL Draft

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Going into the 2022 season Jaxon Smith-Njigba was easily the top wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft. Despite only catching five passes this season, he remains in that spot. The reason JSN retains the top spot — despite missing most of the year due to injury — is the fact he is the most complete receiver in the class. Smith-Njigba shows the ability to consistently run precious routes, comes up with the tough catch time after time, and also is a threat after the catch.

2. Zay Flowers, Boston College
One of the most dynamic players in the 2023 NFL Draft is Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers. What makes Flowers such a dangerous receiver after the catch is his speed, which allows him to get away from defenders, and his impressive agility, which allows him to make sharp cuts in the open field. If Flowers can go to a system similar to what Kansas City runs, look for him to develop into a star at the NFL level.

3. Jordan Addison, USC
The 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner is another wide receiver who should hear his name called on day one of the 2023 NFL Draft. What stands out about Addison is his ability to consistently get open, which has allowed him to record 159 receptions over the past two seasons. Another positive with him is his ability to help out on special teams as a punt returner.

4. Quentin Johnston, TCU
A player who is being rated higher by most people than the second-round grade he gets from me is TCU star Quentin Johnston. While there is no doubt that Johnson has ideal size, coming in at 6-foot-4, and excels in jump ball situations, there are concerns about his game. One of these is his inability to consistently gain separation from NFL-caliber cornerbacks. Johnston has dropped his share of passes during his college career, which he will need to fix to become a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

5. Rashee Rice, SMU
One of the best Group of Five players in the 2023 NFL Draft is Rashee Rice of SMU. This past season, Rice was able to catch 96 balls for 1,355 yards while being named a second-team All-American. When looking at how his game will translate to the next level, three things are working in his favor: his 6-foot-2 size, ability to catch the ball in traffic, and his speed which allows him to be a deep threat.

NFL Draft Scouting Notes

— A wide receiver who has some major red flags is Texas A&M’s Ainias Smith. The biggest concern scouts will likely have with him is his lack of size. Smith comes in at only 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds and has a limited catch radius due to this and his lack of physicality. Another red flag with him is he was arrested last summer for DUI and a small amount of marijuana. The last big red flag with him is that he is coming off a season-ending injury. On the positive side, he is a quick, dynamic receiver who can make plays after the catch. He also has the ability to be a good return man at the next level.

— While there is no doubt that Brock Purdy was the best value of any quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, the question is who will be the quarterback that falls to the third day in the 2023 NFL Draft, yet turns out to be a good value. A player who has a good chance of fitting that bill is Fresno State’s Jake Haener. This past season Haener completed 67 percent of his passes while throwing 33 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. As a prospect what stands out about him is his toughness, leadership ability, and overall accuracy.

— BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua could be a good day-three pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. What stands out about him is his three-tool potential, showing the speed, strength, and size to play in the NFL. Nacua comes in at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and uses this size to routinely shake off tacklers or fight through traffic to make the catch. He also has the speed to be a deep threat, having averaged 18.7 yards per catch in 2021.

— One player who is seeing his stock rise is Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders, who now could go late in the first round. In addition to having outstanding production in college, having recorded 103 tackles this year, he also has the coverage ability teams want to see out of linebackers. In this area, he shows the football intelligence, agility, and speed to hold up well in zone coverage or match up with tight ends in man-to-man coverage. One team he would be a good fit for is the New York Giants, who need to address the middle linebacker position early in the 2023 NFL Draft.

— Last week NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah came out with his tight end rankings and had some big surprises in it. The one that is the hardest to understand is he had Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer rated as just the third-best prospect at this position. This is hard to understand as Mayer is the most complete tight end in the draft. Unlike his top tight end Dalton Kincaid, Mayer is a sound blocker and he is also a better receiver than his No. 2 tight end Darnell Washington. While Jeremiah may see it that way, it is very hard to see them drafted in this order come April.

— The New England Patriots are one of the teams coaching the East-West Shrine Bowl, and a position they are looking at hard is tight end. The main reason for this is because they will likely play more two tight end sets with Bill O’Brien back as the offensive coordinator. In this year’s game, there are no tight ends who carry a day one or day two grade but they could find a couple of day three sleepers. One of these players is Michigan’s Luke Schoonmaker who comes in at 6-foot-5 and shows the speed to be a downfield target. This past season he had the best year of his career catching 35 passes and three touchdowns.

Quote of the Week

“You’re below average in height. Your arm strength is whatever. Your accuracy is average”

-Alabama coach Nick Saban on Brock Purdy when he was recruiting him