Brock Purdy’s numbers already put him in rare air. The 49ers quarterback owns a career passer rating of 104.0, a figure that would sit atop the NFL record book if he weren’t 147 attempts short of the minimum. He’s also averaging 8.6 yards per attempt, which would rank second all time behind only Otto Graham.
And yet, Purdy still isn’t usually mentioned in the same breath as Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow.
For Vernon Davis, that conversation changes only one way.
The former 49ers Pro Bowler said Purdy can quiet the debate if he brings home a Super Bowl.
“It’s an interesting topic,” Davis told RG in an exclusive interview. “Everybody is always asking that question.
I know he’s shown that he can be consistent. He has a great core around him.
The wide receivers and running backs are the best in the business.
“I don’t know what he is going to become. Is he going to be one of those guys like Kirk Cousins and Alex Smith that can lead you to the playoffs, lead you to the Super Bowl?
Can he get it done? That’s going to be the biggest tell.
Can he be a Tom Brady, or will he stay in this box he’s been in?”
San Francisco enters a tough NFC West race with only the third-best odds to win the division, trailing the Rams and the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Still, the 49ers remain in the top 10 in title odds at most US sportsbooks, and Davis believes a championship would reshape how Purdy is viewed after the disappointment of Super Bowl LVIII.
“Only time will tell,” Davis said. “If he wins a big one, then we can talk about him being in that category with Tom Brady.”
Davis also turned his attention to Washington, where Stefon Diggs arrived on a one-year, $8 million deal this offseason. Davis, who knows Diggs well as one of the most accomplished players ever to come out of Maryland’s football program, sees the move as a strong fit next to Terry McLaurin.
“I think they can be a really nice duo,” Davis said.
“They complement each other really well and they both have different skillsets. Terry is younger but Stefon really has a lot of juice left in the tank. They both bring a unique skillset to the wide receiver position, and they’re hungry.”
Washington finished 22nd in the NFL in points per game last season, though injuries played a major role in that result. With Jayden Daniels and McLaurin healthy again and Diggs added to the mix, Davis expects a different look from the offense.
“They’re going to go out there and make plays,” Davis said. “This year is really going to be good for the offensive side of the ball.”
In Other News...
Commanders Quietly Added A Tackle Who Could Solve A Real Depth Concern
As the Commanders wrapped up their 53-man roster and practice squad, they also spent the back end of roster-cut day bringing back familiar pieces and hunting for help from outside the building. Washington re-signed 12 players it had waived or released, then added five newcomers, a group that included veteran cornerback Isaac Yiadom and offensive tackle Esa Pole.
Pole is the more interesting addition for the line conversation because he has already been through a bit of a whirlwind. The former Chiefs and Jets blocker made his NFL debut last season, started four games at left tackle, then was waived before Washington brought him in, giving the Commanders another tackle option at a spot where depth can disappear fast. The real question now is whether he can turn that opening into something bigger once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Aiyuk Keeps Sending A Message Washington No Longer Needs
Brandon Aiyuk has spent part of the summer sending Washington a message in plain sight, showing up on social media in Commanders gear and making it clear where he would like to land. For a while, that kind of public courting might have at least sparked a real conversation in Ashburn, especially with a talent like Aiyuk still under contract with the 49ers and looking for a path to a new team.
Instead, Washingtons side of the equation has been settled for some time. The Commanders have not shown interest in signing him, and general manager Adam Peters has already made it clear veteran Stefon Diggs was the preferred option all along. Aiyuk still has not applied for reinstatement, which leaves his NFL future hanging in the balance while the team he keeps signaling to has moved on. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Is Forcing A New Commanders Roster Debate
Adam Peters has opened the door for undrafted free agents in a way that has started to change the conversation around how Washington should build its roster. Under the Commanders current approach, those players are getting more real chances to compete than they were in previous years, and a few have already turned that opportunity into roster spots or meaningful roles.
The broader point is what makes the debate interesting. Washington is being viewed more like the Ravens now, a team with a long track record of finding contributors after the draft, and that has complicated the old argument that the Commanders needed to stockpile more late-round picks and UDFAs. Peters is giving the franchise a different kind of depth strategy, and the question is whether it can keep producing enough hidden value to matter once the roster gets tighter. [Read more 🡒]