​San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield are frequently discussed as sharing a similar tier of quarterbacking due to their size and production, even though they bring different levels of NFL experience and pedigree to the table. As both prepare for the 2026 season, the question of which signal-caller will have the better year continues to fuel debate. NFL analysts are weighing in, and Fox Sports analyst Chris Broussard has delivered a definitive take on Purdy versus Mayfield.
“I think Purdy is going to be more accurate. I think he’s going to have a better passer rating and a better touchdown percentage, and he’s going to win more games than Baker,” Broussard stated. “So I think Purdy is going to have a great year. … With Mike Evans there, and even Christian Kirk. I just think there’s going to be more stability in his receiving corps. Ricky Pearsall, I really like. We’ll see if he’s healthy, but I believe Kirk and Evans will be there healthy. [Tight end George] Kittle is obviously a nice security blanket, and then some.” Broussard’s forecast emphasizes Purdy’s potential for efficiency and production, underscored by a more reliable and potent set of targets.
Broussard’s projection rests largely on the upgraded infrastructure surrounding Purdy, with the addition of Evans as a top-tier weapon who previously flourished as Mayfield’s go-to receiver in Tampa Bay. Pairing Evans with a core of dependable options like Kirk and Kittle, along with Pearsall, 2026 second-round rookie De’Zhaun Stribling, and the dynamic backfield of Christian McCaffrey, gives Purdy a potent aerial arsenal. The upgrade is designed to maximize Purdy’s efficiency and accuracy while boosting the overall offense around him.
Looking back at the 2025 campaign, the two quarterbacks followed notably different paths. Purdy started nine games for San Francisco, posting a 7-2 record and guiding the team to a solid playoff push. He completed nearly 70 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,167 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Despite missing sizable stretches, his efficiency per dropback remained among the league’s best.
Mayfield, by contrast, shouldered a much heavier workload for the Buccaneers, playing all 17 regular-season games and leading Tampa Bay to an 8-9 mark. He threw for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. In volume terms, Mayfield clearly outpaced Purdy, but his metrics show a lower touchdown percentage and a completion rate of 63.2 percent. Broussard believes Purdy’s greater efficiency, higher accuracy, and better decision-making—despite Mayfield’s larger volume—will translate into more wins for Purdy in the coming season.
With Mayfield now entering a high-stakes contract year and without his most productive target, Evans, the balance of advantage tilts toward San Francisco. Purdy benefits from a healthy, versatile supporting cast and a system that complements his strengths, while Mayfield faces the challenge of rebuilding rapport with new or unproven targets in a more uncertain offense. If Purdy can sustain the efficiency gains and his receivers stay healthy, Broussard’s forecast envisions him eclipsing Mayfield in key metrics—accuracy, passer rating, touchdown percentage, and ultimately wins.
In sum, the 2026 narrative centers on Purdy leveraging a strengthened supporting cast to maximize efficiency and consistency, while Mayfield negotiates a year of continued adaptation and contract-driven scrutiny. The outcome remains to be determined, but the projections emphasize Purdy’s path toward greater efficiency and greater impact in the Bay Area, with positive implications for the 49ers’ offense as a whole. This analysis originated as part of ongoing coverage of the 49ers and Mayfield, with Broussard’s commentary highlighting the expected uptick in Purdy’s play if the surrounding cast remains healthy and productive.