Michael Lombardi would give Brock Purdy his MVP vote if the season ended today

Nov 29, 2023, 11:16 AM | Updated: 1:17 pm

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a 42-10 victory against the Dallas Cowboys at Levi's Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

When the San Francisco 49ers walk into Philadelphia this weekend, one of the biggest questions surrounding the visitors will be: How does Brock Purdy respond? But some media members, have no worries that the MVP candidate can excel against the Eagles.

Former NFL executive Michael Lombardi joined The Pat McAfee Show Tuesday to preview the 49ers’ Week 13 clash with the Eagles. Among the many topics discussed was the play of Brock Purdy, especially considering his early exit in last season’s game. When both sides last met, Purdy had torn his UCL in his throwing elbow during the NFC Championship game in January. The 49ers offense suffered because of the injury, only putting up seven points.

Now heading back to the scene of the crime, some may question if Purdy can handle the bright lights of Philly. Not Lombardi however, so enthralled by the young QB that he would consider giving him his MVP vote.

“No. I mean, I’d give Brock Purdy my MVP vote,” Michael Lombardi said on the show. “I think Brock Purdy’s really good. I think we got to stop talking about him like he’s a seventh-round pick.”

"I'd give Brock Purdy my MVP vote and I think he's really good..

The 49ers know who he is and that team absolutely loves him" ~ @mlombardiNFL #PMSLive #FTTB pic.twitter.com/aLrp1RQOIp

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 28, 2023

To Lombardi’s point, Purdy hasn’t played like the last pick in the NFL draft since he took over for Jimmy Garoppolo last season.

The second-year QB has a record of 13-3 as a starter, throwing for 2,871 passing yards, 21 total touchdowns and six interceptions. For context, Eagles QB and MVP front-runner Jalen Hurts has fewer passing yards (2,697), fewer passing touchdowns (19), and more interceptions (10). Still, Purdy is much further down on the totem pole for MVP odds, hovering around sixth or seventh-best to win the award, according to Covers.com.

And while the favoritism towards Hurts and the Eagles is expected, Lombardi doesn’t get the Purdy conversations, using a former 49ers coach to make his point.

“As Bill Walsh used to say all the time, we have to grade on how they play, not where they were drafted,” the former executive said. “I mean, he throws interceptions, everybody does. Everybody’s gonna make some mistakes with the ball. He did in [the Seattle] game, but then the throw he made at the end of the game was incredible. [The 49ers] know who he is. The team loves him. There’s no question about that. For me, I think he’s a really good player.”

That’s also the way Lombardi expects Brock Purdy to go into a hostile environment and perform because he’s done it before.

“I think he’ll come back to Philly, it’s supposed to be rainy. They might have some cold [weather], in the 40 degrees. I think he’ll play really well,” he added. “I would be shocked [if he doesn’t]. Look, I think both these teams this will be like [the Rocky movies], they’ll be another one.”