​The San Francisco 49ers appear to have found their quarterback of the future in Brock Purdy. While he may not be regarded as one of the absolute top-tier quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Lamar Jackson, Purdy is still more than capable of leading a winning team. Even though his 2025 season was curtailed by injury, Purdy still displayed enough promise to earn honorable mention in a recent ESPN-compiled poll of NFL executives, scouts, and coaches shared by Jeremy Fowler. In that list, Purdy barely missed the top-10, signaling that many evaluators view him as a high-quality quarterback with real upside.
Within that honorable-mention distinction, an NFC executive offered a notable assessment of Purdy, describing him as possessing two “superpowers.” “He has got two superpowers,” the executive said. “Layering the ball and shot-area quickness to stay alive. He’s elite in those two areas.” Those two traits—ball layering and short-area quickness—are singled out as elite strengths that significantly contribute to Purdy’s effectiveness on the field.
Although Purdy might not be regarded as the best quarterback in the league, his excellence in these two areas helps him compete at a high level. Layering the ball is especially valuable in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, where precise passes placed over or through defenders can open routes that aren’t available to many quarterbacks. Purdy’s talent for threading passes—delivering the ball to a receiver even when defenders are crowded—gives him more options as a passer. This ability to place passes with precision has been a key reason why he earned votes toward the top tier of quarterbacks in the poll.
But Purdy’s strengths don’t end with passing technique. He is also noted for his short-area quickness, a quality that translates into more than just speed. Purdy isn’t typically the fastest quarterback or a prolific runner, but his real advantage lies in his ability to avoid sacks and improvise when plays break down. In the past season, he absorbed 11 sacks over nine games, equating to a 3.73% sack rate. What matters is how Purdy responds to pressure: his knack for avoiding sacks—pivoting, escaping, or making quick decisions—helps him maintain plays and keep the offense moving. That combination of the ability to layer passes and to escape pressure underlines why he is considered elite in those domains and why he can be a productive, high-level quarterback in the NFL.
Altogether, Purdy’s skill set—precise ball placement with the capacity to thread passes into tight windows and his poise under duress—positions him as a valuable asset for the 49ers. His two “superpowers” illustrate why he remains a credible option for a franchise seeking stability at the most important position. While evaluations may vary and debates over ceiling and upside will continue, Purdy’s performance in scenarios that demand surgical passing and resilience against pressure indicate he can be a legitimate contributor and a winning quarterback in the right system. The headlines surrounding his development and the praise from NFL executives underscore his potential to carve out a significant role for the 49ers, even as the league’s landscape features other quarterbacks at the pinnacle of the position. The Sporting News has highlighted these observations, and readers can access the piece and consider The Sporting News as a preferred source for related coverage.