49ers GM gives Brock Purdy big vote of confidence

Many have questioned whether or not Brock Purdy is truly the San Francisco 49ers‘ quarterback of the future, but general manager John Lynch put those qualms to rest this week.

While speaking to the media at the NFL Scouting Combine, Lynch said that the 49ers are very comfortable with Purdy under center and are looking to build around him moving forward.

“It’s a nice feeling, I know that — having stability at that position,” Lynch said, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “People forget last year was Brock’s first full year as a starter. So I think that leaves you feeling pretty good about his opportunity with what we’ve already seen in his couple of years. In particular, last year, the first full year as a starter coming off the injury, we’re past that. It just gives you a lot of confidence going in.”

Purdy has been criticized by many for being a system quarterback, but he still managed to throw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 69.4 percent of his passes and posting a league-high passer rating of 113 this past season. That was enough to earn him a Pro Bowl selection and to allow him to finish fourth in MVP voting.

Most importantly, he led San Francisco all the way to a Super Bowl appearance.

“Now, it’s like kind of building around him,” added Lynch. “It gives you a foundation to build off of and that is a really good feeling, a settling feeling.”

Purdy, who played his collegiate football at Iowa State, was selected by the Niners with the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.

He was pressed into starting duty during his rookie campaign after season-ending injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. He went 5-0 during his regular-season starts and guided the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game, where he bowed out after four passes due to an elbow injury.

Purdy was even more impressive this past year, and he figures to continue improving as he goes forward.

Call him a system quarterback, a game manager or whatever you want, but it’s pretty clear that San Francisco views Brock Purdy as its franchise quarterback.