In the modern NFL, comparing quarterbacks has become its own form of sport. Are you a believer in stats or context, system or improvisation, pedigree or potential? Enter the growing conversation around Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ $265 million signal-caller, and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns’ rookie who slid shockingly to the fifth round.
On the surface, they seem worlds apart. Purdy with a Super Bowl appearance and a 23-7 record, Sanders still earning his first-team reps. But according to FOX Sports analyst RJ Young, the conversation isn’t as lopsided as you think.
Talent in Concrete vs. Success in a Greenhouse
RJ Young recently dropped what felt like a live grenade on the NFL airwaves: “Shedeur Sanders is more talented than Brock Purdy.”
Let that marinate.
Yes, Purdy has already led one of the league’s most efficient offenses. But Young’s argument doesn’t aim to tear down Purdy, it’s about elevating Sanders. He argues that Purdy’s rise is heavily scaffolded by an elite infrastructure: Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Shanahan, and arguably the best defense in the NFL.
“You know what Purdy had at Iowa State? Breece Hall, a unanimous All-American,” Young reminded. “Now it’s McCaffrey. That’s not a coincidence.”
Sanders, on the other hand, played behind one of the worst rushing offenses in college football. In 2024, Colorado’s run game ranked near dead last, forcing Sanders to throw in obvious passing situations. Still, he delivered a 74% completion rate, 4,134 passing yards, and 37 touchdowns.
“No balance. No threat. Just Shedeur,” Young said. “He was the offense.”
Where Purdy operated with play-action security blankets and clean pockets, Sanders often ran for his life, behind a leaky offensive line, no established run game, and defenses that knew exactly what was coming. Yet he still walked away with the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, shattering records and expectations.
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Purdy Earned It. Sanders Might Redefine It.
Young frames Purdy as the NFL’s Superman — clean-cut, consistent, and system-optimized. Sanders? He’s Batman. Unorthodox, doubted, yet deadly when underestimated.
Even in his early days with the Browns, Sanders is already showing glimpses. Despite falling to pick No. 144, he’s reportedly completed over 77% of his passes during OTAs. That’s not fluke accuracy, it’s muscle memory from carrying Colorado week after week.
The environment in Cleveland isn’t ideal either. Nick Chubb is gone, and the Browns’ current RBs combined for less than 900 yards last season. There’s no safety net for Sanders here either. But maybe that’s the point.
“Let’s see what he does when you give him what Purdy had” Young challenges. “We already know what he can do with nothing.”
This isn’t a knock on Brock Purdy. He deserves his $265M. He’s smart, accurate, and clutch. But as Young notes, “Sometimes, the system shines as much as the quarterback.”
The real story? The NFL might be sleeping on a quarterback who, with no tools, still built a near-impossible résumé. If Sanders gets even a fraction of what Purdy has — talent around him, time to grow, system stability — he could be something entirely different.
Maybe not the next Purdy. Maybe something more.
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