Ever since Brock Purdy has taken over as the starting quarterback of the 49ersthe team is an undefeated 6-0, with seven wins as Purdy replaced an injured one Jimmy Garoppolo. In those seven games, Purdy has 16 touchdowns against just three interceptions, with over 60% completion percentage in each game.
As the off-season begins, San Francisco will have another decision to make at quarterback as Garoppolo gets a free pass and Trey Lance returns from injury. However, the decision may have already been made.
Michael Silver reports from two sources that Purdy has already “won” the quarterback battle with Lance for the 2023 season. That’s despite the huge draft capital San Francisco used to acquire Lance, a 2021 first-round pick plus two more future first-round picks in a trade with the Dolphins, as opposed to taking Purdy with the final draft pick from 2022.
According to Silver, coach Kyle trusts Shanahan Purdy more than Lance and that probably won’t change as the team goes through its offseason programs. In addition, Silver said Purdy’s emergence makes it less likely that the 49ers will go after Tom Brady on free duty.
The 49ers drafted Lance with the No. 3 pick in 2021 with the idea in mind of sitting him out for the first year and starting him in 2022. However, a foot injury in week two ended Lance’s season, paving the way for Garoppolo, who was already expected. to leave the team in the off-season.
When Garoppolo got injured, no one expected Purdy to excel, but he did and it puts the 49ers in a predicament. If Purdy can continue to win games, potentially allowing San Francisco their first Super Bowl win since the 1990s, the decision will likely become easier.