Matt Ryan highlights 49ers QB Brock Purdy's underrated traits, addresses contract criticism

Former NFL MVP Matt Ryan is a firm believer in Brock Purdy. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback has rapidly risen from "Mr. Irrelevant" to one of the league's highest-paid players, finding early success in his NFL career.

This offseason, the 49ers rewarded Purdy with a five-year, $265 million contract extension—a massive deal that sparked widespread debate among analysts. Many question whether the young quarterback deserves to be paid like an elite player. However, Ryan believes the skepticism surrounding Purdy will soon be swept aside by his performance on the field.

Speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco at the American Century Championship, Ryan offered a nuanced perspective on what makes the 25-year-old signal-caller such a perfect fit for head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense—something the former quarterback knows well, having played in the system for two seasons (2015–2016) when Shanahan was his offensive coordinator in Atlanta.

While discussing Purdy, Ryan highlighted two underrated aspects of the 49ers quarterback's game that he believes have contributed—and will continue to contribute—to his success.

"I think his ability to throw the football over the middle of the field, that's huge for them and fits within the scheme and what they do," Ryan told Maiocco. "He's a really good athlete; I think underrated, in terms of mobility, but also accuracy on the run. The ability to be accurate in the intermediate passing game, moving around -- that fits with how Kyle wants to run the football.

Purdy may not possess all the physical traits coaches typically seek in an elite passer. He isn't as tall as someone like Josh Allen and lacks the Buffalo Bills star's cannon arm to consistently launch deep passes. But Ryan emphasized that those tools aren't essential in Shanahan's system.

"It's nice to have a big arm -- no question about it. … But those [big] plays rarely come up," Ryan explained. "They might be two, three, four times a game. Your bread is buttered, particularly in [San Francisco's] system, in the intermediate passing game, and getting the ball out of your hand quickly and having trust in guys to be where they're supposed to be.

"And I think [Purdy's] vision, anticipation, and accuracy fits really well with that."

Purdy has demonstrated remarkable poise and decision-making in high-pressure situations. As a rookie in 2022, he entered the huddle after injuries sidelined Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo and led the offense with the confidence of a seasoned veteran.

"I think the unknown with Brock early on was, 'Is he going to be able to make good decisions? Is he going to be poised in two-minute situations and critical third downs?' And he's shown to be that, in a short career," Ryan noted.

Purdy has backed up his poise with production, throwing for 9,518 yards and 64 touchdowns over his first 40 regular-season games. Following the 49ers' disappointing 2024 campaign, Purdy will be under the microscope in 2025—especially from his critics.

Is Brock Purdy worth his massive contract?

The conversation inevitably turned to Purdy's contract extension, which averages $53 million annually, tying him with Jared Goff as the seventh-highest-paid player in the NFL. While many question the wisdom of committing that much money to Purdy, Ryan is not concerned for the 49ers. He understands the expectations that come with such a payday.

"Listen, I always thought, when you sign big extensions and go onto the next, obviously there's expectation and weight there," Ryan said. "But you've got to be yourself, right? They made a commitment to who you are. And certainly, there's potential to grow. But [don't] try to do too much -- that's where guys can fall into a trap.

"For me, it's really about playing within the scheme and reading plays out one play at a time and just making good decisions over and over. And I think that's what he's going to do."

Ryan doesn't believe we've seen the best of Purdy yet. He expects further growth from the 25-year-old and views the contract as one that could benefit the team in the long run.

"I've always felt that with quarterback contracts, too, they're player-friendly on the front end and team-friendly on the back end," Ryan said.

He added, "They're in this little period right now where, yeah, it's a big number. But you look four or five years down the road with the way contracts have changed and continue to go up, he's going to be a team-friendly guy in a couple of years."

Ryan believes Purdy's future in San Francisco is bright and that the 49ers won't regret committing to their rising star.