Brock Purdy is focused on taking his game to the next level, both mentally and physically.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — As the San Francisco 49ers moved through their offseason program, it was hard not to see — or hear — the quarterback Brock Purdy.

During organized team activities and minicamp practices, Purdy was clearly in charge. In meeting rooms and in the locker room, teammates say Purdy did the most talking. He was a long way from the 2023 offseason, when Purdy was recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and couldn’t bring any of the work he was doing in the classroom to the field.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is focused on taking his game to the next level, both mentally and physically. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

This year has been different. Fully healthy after a great season and able to spend an entire offseason as a solid starter, Purdy has been able to focus on elevating his game, both mentally and physically, to another level.

“This time he’s definitely ahead of where he was last year,” coach Kyle Shanahan reported. “It’s been great for him to guide us all offseason, in drills and everything. It’s been great to have him for a full first offseason.”

For both the Niners and Purdy, having a full offseason together comes at an ideal time. San Francisco is coming off a narrow overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, has advanced to at least the NFC Championship Game in four of the last five seasons and is increasingly desperate to get over the hump and win another Lombardi Trophy.

Purdy surpassed Mr. Irrelevant status, stayed healthy and put together a resume strong and extensive enough to position himself for a lucrative contract extension next offseason.

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As the unquestioned QB1, Purdy’s offseason has been about taking the next step as a team leader, whether it’s making his voice louder among his teammates or working in the weight room to get bigger, faster and stronger.

“For me it was like this was a different offseason,” Purdy said. “It’s nice that I don’t have to be on this schedule and regimen of rehab, rehab, rehab, recovering and stressing about whether I’m going to come back for the season or not. We just have an offseason to breathe and reflect on the last two years because it’s been It’s been go, go, go. For me it’s been really good, just mentally and having that hunger to get back and be ready for the ring.”

The dates and moments are still fresh in Purdy’s mind. The memory of tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the 2023 NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles followed by surgery in March, too. While he was on the team that offseason and expected to return to the starting job when he was healthy, there was some uncertainty until he was fully cleared to return.

Purdy spent those OTAs and the offseason program studying cuts with Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese. When it came time to take what he learned in those sessions to the field, the best Purdy could do was watch from the sideline and take the reps in his head. Shanahan said Purdy was frustrated by those circumstances, but quickly noticed an extra bounce in Purdy’s step when he was able to jump from the first day of the first phase of this year’s program.

During the postseason study of his 2023 performance, Purdy found a lot of things he wanted to work on. While he threw for a franchise-record 4,280 yards and became the first Niners quarterback since Jeff Garcia in 2001 to throw for more than 30 touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl nod, Purdy saw occasional lapses. in their progressions, footwork and game management. He also wanted to continue growing into the leadership role that the position inherently entails.

Brock Purdy is not eligible for an extension to his rookie contract until the end of his third NFL season. Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

“That’s what we talked about,” Griese said. “Situational awareness plus all the progressions and then growing as a leader off the field and in the locker room and what that entails and what that looks like. And as you gain more experience and status on the team and the league within the organization, “What opportunities present themselves for you to take a little bit of a bigger voice and set accountability and expectations.”

On the physical side, Purdy earned rave reviews from teammates and coaches, and earned some viral reactions on social media to his photos after adding some muscle to his 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame ( 99.7 kg). Purdy wanted to get bigger so he could better handle the wear and tear of the season and felt a stronger lower half would also help bolster his arm strength.

Purdy’s workout routine, which he plans to continue in Florida before training camp, also focused on adding flexibility and mobility.

“When the season comes, what matters is being in the best shape possible for what a marathon is,” Purdy said. “Being able to run, make plays, throw the ball, stay in shape. I’m preparing for that right now.”

On the mental side, Purdy has taken everything that comes with his emergence in stride. His celebrity has grown, acknowledging that he is recognized more often when he goes out to the Bay Area and makes appearances here and there, such as throwing out the first pitch at a San Francisco Giants game.

With many of the Niners’ top stars rehabbing from injury or sitting out the offseason program, Purdy didn’t shy away from having a stronger voice on the practice field or in meetings. That breakout 2023 season has helped Purdy’s confidence grow, and with that, his teammates have continued to gravitate toward him, though they insist she hasn’t given up his humble approach in the name of vocal leadership.

“I think he’s definitely becoming a little more vocal inside the building,” the winger said. Nick Bosa. “I don’t think he’s someone who’s going to change even when he gets paid next year.”

While Purdy’s offseason has had plenty to celebrate, including a wedding and honeymoon with his wife, Jenna, next year’s season could be even bigger. Purdy is entering the third year of his rookie contract and is scheduled to earn a base salary of just $985,000 with a cap hit just above $1 million.

That means Purdy will remain one of the NFL’s top bargains for another year. As Bosa points out, that will almost certainly change next year when Purdy is eligible to negotiate a contract extension for the first time.

When that happens, Purdy’s salary could multiply more than 50 times, an almost unthinkable increase for a player who almost went undrafted in the 2022 draft. But before any of that happens, Purdy knows he must remember the lessons learned from last season and the work of his first full offseason, and turn it into another great year on the field.

“I’m trying to win this year and do everything I can for this organization,” Purdy said. “Everything else happens the way it happens… Getting too caught up in all that kind of stuff is, to me, silly. I’m taking it day by day and getting better.”

2024-06-22 15:14:38
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