Shannon Sharpe: Brock Purdy is not elite, he's a product of 49ers' system

Shannon Sharpe has weighed in on the ongoing debate over Brock Purdy's status as an elite quarterback. During a segment on ESPN's "First Take," the former NFL tight end was asked if Purdy is truly an elite quarterback or simply the beneficiary of the system he plays in.

"No, he's not an elite quarterback," Sharpe responded. "He's a product of the system. It's more credit to [head coach] Kyle Shanahan and what he's done."

Sharpe isn't the first to categorize Purdy as a system quarterback. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky recently sparked backlash for stating that New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones would have Purdy-like production in the 49ers offense, implying that Purdy is a system quarterback.

Orlovsky went on to clarify that no disrespect toward Purdy was meant.

"What I was trying to convey is, in more support of Mac Jones than trying to take any form of a shot on Brock Purdy," Orlovsky shared during a radio interview. "... I'm a Brock Purdy backer. I think, since the first time we saw him, I think it was against the Dolphins, I've been Team Brock Purdy. I think he's a really good player."

Sharpe sounded less complimentary towards the 49ers quarterback, believing Purdy would be exposed if he didn't have weapons like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle around him.

"He's a product of the system," Sharpe said. "Now, that's not to take away from what he's doing. It's okay for him to be in the MVP discussion and not be [Chiefs QB] Patrick Mahomes or not be [Dolphins QB] Tua [Tagovailoa], or not be an elite quarterback. He still has to go out there and operate. He just doesn't have to do as much as, say, those other guys."

Sharpe added, "In this system, the ability to run the football with Christian McCaffrey and all the weapons, because all he has to do is just not turn it over, get it in Aiyuk's hands, get it in Deebo's hands, get it in Kittle's hands, and let them do the work. But no, he's not elite. [By] no stretch of the imagination is he elite."