Brock Purdy has claimed the top spot in ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell’s early NFL MVP rankings after a start that echoes Peyton Manning’s 2004 season. Purdy’s unique achievement: completing at least 50 pass attempts in the first four games without surrendering a sack, something no quarterback has managed since Manning nearly two decades ago.
Barnwell’s assessment, based on performance through Week 4 rather than season-end predictions, places Purdy ahead of Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, and even Patrick Mahomes. “Through four games, there’s Purdy and then there’s everybody else,” Barnwell wrote, highlighting the 49ers quarterback’s rare combination of efficiency and big plays.
Avoiding sacks is significant because they can wipe out the benefits of an otherwise successful passing series. Purdy has not only stayed upright but also maintained ball security, with no fumbles and just one interception in the season opener against the Rams. Beyond protecting the football, he leads the league with an 89.7 Total QBR, the fifth-best mark in the first four weeks since ESPN began recording the stat in 2007.
That company is impressive: only Tom Brady in 2007, Peyton Manning in 2013, and Aaron Rodgers in 2020 posted higher starts and all went on to win MVP. Purdy’s start sits alongside theirs, even though the season remains far from over.
Barnwell noted Purdy’s efficiency, with an average of 9.2 yards gained per dropback, trailing only Lamar Jackson in the league. His successful play rate — defined by Next Gen Stats as productive plays on dropbacks — hits nearly 61%, the highest four-week start in the era of such data.
The 49ers’ offensive scheme under Kyle Shanahan and their skilled supporting cast deserve acknowledgment, but Purdy has maintained his numbers despite changes at receiver and a running game ranked 16th in expected points added per rush.
Barnwell’s rankings put Lawrence second, Prescott third, and Mahomes just outside the top three in fourth place. The distinction comes down to Purdy’s efficiency and ball security, which have set a standard for the league’s quarterbacks in these opening weeks.
Four games don’t determine the MVP, but Purdy’s start has established a benchmark for others to chase. As of Week 4, he leads ESPN’s early MVP conversation with a rare feat that recalls one of the NFL’s all-time great seasons.
According to Yahoo Sports.