San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has already started two NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl after he entered the NFL as the final pick of the 2022 draft.
At least one NFL scout believes Purdy is on his way to eventually being enshrined in Canton.
“I can’t say enough that Brock Purdy has so much more potential left to unlock,” that scout told Jake Rogers of the NFL Analysis Network for a piece published Thursday. “He’s already a superstar, but he’s nowhere close to his ceiling. If he ends up reaching his ceiling, Hall of Fame is the least of the accolades that he has the talent and ability to achieve.”
Purdy famously won his first seven starts as a rookie until he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during San Francisco’s NFC Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2023. The 24-year-old recovered in time to start in Week 1 this past September, and he ultimately became a finalist for Most Valuable Player in his first campaign as a full-time QB1.
According to ESPN stats, Purdy ended the 2023 regular season leading the league among qualified players with a 72.8 adjusted QBR, a 113.0 passer rating and an average of 9.6 yards per pass attempt. He was third with 31 touchdown passes, fifth with 4,280 passing yards and fourth with a 69.4 percent completion percentage.
“At just 24 years of age, Brock Purdy is playing with a football IQ well beyond his years,” Rogers added following his chat with the scout. “He’s a top-notch leader as well and his teammates love playing for him. That is a quality that is impossible to teach.”
Much was made from this past fall through Super Bowl LVIII about Purdy allegedly being little more than a “game manager” who has been surrounded by elite offensive weapons and who is lucky to play for a top-tier head coach (Kyle Shanahan). As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Purdy tied for sixth among the betting favorites at +1200 odds to earn MVP honors for the upcoming season.
To his credit, Purdy was one San Francisco defensive stop away from hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February. If he improves for a second consecutive season and before he celebrates his 25th birthday this coming December, he could at the very least permanently silence the “game manager” takes that still hover over his status today.
All-Pro’s Trade Value Could Plummet Following Latest Move
The Buffalo Bills Only Received A 2025 Second-Round Pick For Stefon Diggs. Could The 49ers Get More For Brandon Aiyuk In A Trade?
The Buffalo Bills shocked the NFL world when they agreed to trade Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. While this decision impacted the Bills and Texans the most, it also did a number on the San Francisco 49ers. While the team won’t publicly admit it, they are trying to trade Brandon Aiyuk. The former first-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the two sides are reportedly not close to an extension. With Aiyuk actively frustrated, most believe the 49ers will deal the wide receiver at some point during the NFL Draft.
However, that might not happen following the Stefon Diggs trade. The former All-Pro is coming off a 1,100-yard season and four straight Pro Bowl selections, but the Buffalo Bills could only get a 2025 second-round pick for his services. The 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with talent at the wide receiver position, and the Diggs trade implies that teams might not be willing to give up too much for Brandon Aiyuk.
What Does the Stefon Diggs Trade Mean For Brandon Aiyuk?
While Diggs might be the bigger name, Brandon Aiyuk should fetch a larger return in a trade. The current 49er was more productive than Diggs last year, had a higher film-based PFF grade, and is five years younger. If the market rate for Diggs was a 2025 second-round pick (roughly equal to a 2024 third-round pick), then Aiyuk should net at least a 2024 second-round pick or a late first-round pick.
This is quite a bit less than what the 49ers are reportedly asking for in a Brandon Aiyuk trade. According to an earlier report, San Francisco and Jacksonville had discussed trading Aiyuk for the 17th-overall pick and wide receiver Zay Jones.
Even if the 49ers can’t get that type of return, they’re still probably going to trade Brandon Aiyuk. Ultimately, this team doesn’t have enough cap space to sign him and Brock Purdy to market-level deals. Seeing as quarterback is the most important position in the game, that makes Aiyuk the odd-man out. Several teams should be interested in his services, but these five make the most sense.
Possible Destinations
Pittsburgh Steelers
Russell Wilson is an upgrade on Kenny Pickett, but the one-time Super Bowl champion is no longer the type of player who can elevate an entire roster by himself. George Pickens is a good receiver, but this team needs to find someone to replace Diontae Johnson. Brandon Aiyuk is a clear upgrade and an ideal trade target for a team hoping to put together a deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers will always be competitive so long as Justin Herbert is under center. With that being said, they’ll have a hard time doing much of anything with this lackluster supporting cast. Assuming the team doesn’t draft Malik Nabers or Marvin Harrison Jr in the first round, they should be willing to trade for Brandon Aiyuk and pair Herbert with an elite weapon.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Widely believed to be the frontrunners in the Brandon Aiyuk trade sweepstakes, the Jacksonville Jaguars could use another wide receiver. After losing Calvin Ridley to the Tennessee Titans, the team now has Gabriel Davis, Christian Kirk, and Evan Engram as the top options for Trevor Lawrence. While this isn’t a bad supporting cast, the group lacks a true difference-maker. The AFC South appears to be one of the most competitive divisions in football, so Jacksonville will need to improve dramatically if they want to host a playoff game.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are doing their best to give Bryce Young a fair shot in 2024. So far, the team has used their relatively limited resources to fortify their offensive line and acquire Diontae Johnson. These are encouraging first steps, but a trade for Brandon Aiyuk could be the finishing touch. Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, and D.J. Moore did wonders for their young quarterbacks, and Aiyuk could have a similar impact on Young. For better or worse, the fate of the Carolina Panthers rests in Young’s hands, so the team should do everything in their power to ensure he works out.
Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice will probably face a suspension for his role in the six-car crash, so the Chiefs need to get another wide receiver if they’re going to pull off the three-peat. Marquise Brown is a good one-year stopgap, but he’s not a long-term solution at wide receiver. With Travis Kelce also getting older, a Brandon Aiyuk trade could give Patrick Mahomes his next top receiver for the next decade.
