Niners Nation
We also talk about Brock Purdy and the ‘franchise’ word, and whether Mac Jones will make an appearance in 2025
With the end of the offseason approaching, we can finally focus on the football being played on the field. Mandatory minicamps have already opened, and training camp and the preseason are just over the horizon.
The San Francisco 49ers are accustomed to a noisy June, typically dealing with one or two holdouts during this period. However, the 2025 offseason has been different, with Brock Purdy, George Kittle, and Fred Warner ending their contract drama before the summer started. With no contract shenanigans to worry about, we can entirely shift our focus towards the 2025 season.
With the roster mostly set, some questions will be answered over the course of the 49ers’ ideally more-than-17-game season. Over the next few weeks, we will break down those questions by position group and attempt to identify where the answers will come from.
The quarterback position had the biggest question of them all until Purdy signed his extension in May. With that roadblock out of the way, here are three questions to be asked about the 49ers quarterback group.
Which Brock Purdy will we see in 2025?
Purdy set the football world ablaze with his relief appearance in the back half of the 2022 season, leading the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. That progression continued through an MVP-caliber 2023 season that saw San Francisco win its second NFC Championship of the Shanahan era.
While injuries and a down year from the 49ers played a significant role, Purdy’s progression felt like it hit a snag in 2024. Without Christian McCaffrey or Aiyuk in support, Purdy’s numbers took a hit. His numbers were down across the board – fewer passing yards, a lower completion percentage, and a higher sack rate – but where the 49ers needed the most support was his touchdown passes.
After throwing 31 touchdowns in 2023—tied for fourth-most in franchise history—Purdy threw just 20 last season, a big part of why the 49ers fell from third in scoring in 2023 to 14th in 2024. Now, the touchdowns can’t be completely blamed on Purdy, as he was missing the recipients for 14 of those 31 touchdown passes in 2023 with the injuries to Aiyuk and McCaffrey, but the sharp drop-off is slightly concerning for the new $265-million man.
While Purdy did struggle at times with his arm, his legs became more of a threat in 2024. While his passing numbers were down, Purdy almost doubled his rushing numbers from 2023 to 2024, making himself a viable dual-threat quarterback. Purdy rushed for 323 yards (13th-most by a quarterback in franchise history and fifth-most from the non-Steve Young or Colin Kaepernick category) on 66 attempts in 2024, with 31 of those attempts resulting in a first down. Purdy won’t be able to blow past defenders with his speed, but his mobility is now something to note for opposing defenses in 2025.
The weapons will be lacking...
