Why Brock Purdy is ‘leader in the clubhouse’ to be 49ers starting QB

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch again backed 2022 rookie sensation Brock Purdy to eventually reclaim the team’s starting quarterback job. 

“Brock is the leader in the clubhouse, as we said, but it’s open for competition,” Lynch explained during a Wednesday appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, per David Lombardi of The Athletic. Lynch previously used the “leader in the clubhouse” phrase about Purdy in March and this time around offered additional information as to why the club is so high on the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft heading into the summer. 

“Is it a flash in the pan or is it the real deal? As we’ve gone back and studied it, he played at a high, high level,” Lynch said about Purdy. “Not only played within the system, he made a lot of plays outside the system by extending plays. He showed tremendous playmaking ability. He showed tremendous ability to run the system efficiently, effectively, push the ball downfield — he just had an incredible first year.” 

Purdy began his rookie season buried on the depth chart before emerging as the club’s savior when both Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance were sidelined with campaign-ending injuries in December. The 23-year-old won five consecutive regular-season starts and then guided the 49ers to two playoff victories before suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the team’s NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Across nine total regular-season appearances, Purdy completed 67.1 percent of 170 pass attempts for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. According to ESPN stats, he would’ve ranked fifth with an adjusted QBR of 65.6 if he had ended the campaign among qualified players. 

Lynch has made it known the 49ers are “incredibly encouraged” after Purdy resumed throwing this week for the first time since his elbow surgery on March 10. Lombardi added that “Purdy seems to be slightly ahead of schedule” in his recovery and has Lynch believing the second-year pro could be ready for training camp and the upcoming season. In the immediate short term, Lance is handling first-team practice reps ahead of free-agency signing Sam Darnold this spring.