49ers insider on Brock Purdy's critics: 'I don't know if they watch much professional football'

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy continues to face criticism after becoming one of the highest-paid players in the NFL, securing a contract extension worth $53 million per year. Some detractors argue that the 49ers overpaid for a quarterback who has yet to prove he can play at an elite level.

But one prominent 49ers insider had a sharp response for Purdy's critics.

"I think the people who are saying that, I don't know if they watch the 49ers," NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco said during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. "I don't know if they watch much professional football because this is a guy that put up huge numbers in 2023, his first full year as a starter."

San Francisco struggled through an injury-ridden 2024 season, finishing with just six wins, and Maiocco acknowledged that Purdy's numbers weren't as impressive as those from the previous year.

"Last year, they had all the injuries, basically playing with a lot of guys he didn't even practice with during the offseason," Maiocco explained.

The insider notes that the more you watch Purdy, the more apparent it is that the quarterback plays at an impressive level, especially when factoring in how coaches and teammates speak about him.

"Does he have the biggest arm in the world? Of course not," Maiocco added. "But where his strengths lie are in other areas, like being able to read a defense on the fly, and knowing the offense, and being accurate and decisive, his decision making, his processing, all of those things. He's a really good player, and there's no question about it."

Maiocco also noted that the 49ers prioritized getting a deal done early with Purdy, which sends a strong message to the locker room that they are willing to do right by a player who performs on the football field. It also avoids the kind of contract drama that affects team focus.

Finalizing Purdy's contract early prevents a repeat of last year's situation with Brandon Aiyuk, whose deal wasn't resolved until right before Week 1, a distraction many believe contributed to the team's sluggish effort.

"Brock Purdy played well—not as well as he did in 2023—but he still produced at a decent level, seventh in the league in QBR," Maiocco concluded. "I just don't think that, inside the building, and the people who are making the decisions, and the people who are around the 49ers, I don't think there was ever any question that he is the guy for the future."