Ex-49ers QB says Brock Purdy has 'great chance' to win a Super Bowl

· Yahoo Sports

Alex Smith likes Brock Purdy's chances of winning a Super Bowl.

Visit rocore.sbs for more information.

The former San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, now an analyst for ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, spoke glowingly about Purdy in a recent interview with Larry Krueger's "Krueg Show." Smith pushed back labels that have followed Purdy recently and expects a long, successful career ahead of the 49ers star passer..

"This is what I think people just don't realize," Smith said. "This guy pushes the ball downfield. When you look at the downfield stats from a quarterback — attempts, completions, accuracy — this guy leads the league in the NFL every year in every one of those categories. He battled the game manager thing, like he's just the product of the system. It just couldn't be further from the truth. This guy's a phenomenal player."

Smith was particularly impressed by Purdy's willingness to throw with anticipation — a trait he said separates elite quarterbacks from the rest.

"You want to talk about risk taker? To layer these balls over the middle, to throw them as early as he does — it takes guts," Smith said. "There's unflinching trust you have to have to turn these balls loose in an NFL game. And this guy just does it time and time again. That's a gift. I know it took me a long time to ever develop that kind of trust. This guy just has it, and it's super rare."

Smith also noted Purdy's rare football IQ and processing speed as reasons why his career should age well.

"I think he's an elite quarterback," Smith said. "I know it looks different. I know it's not the 65-right Howitzer. It doesn't matter. So much of the quarterback position is between the ears. You could have all the other measurables, but if you don't have that, you got no chance."

Finally, Smith went so far as to say he can see Purdy hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for the 49ers at some point in his career. He's had a few chances to get close before, but Smith likes what he's seen enough from Purdy to remain confident.

"I think he's got a great chance," Smith said. "This is a guy that's always going to give you a chance to be in contention. Look at last year — they had no business doing what they did last year, given all the adversity and who they were playing against. That skill set is so sustainable. Your physical attributes can slow down, but a lot of times your mind will continue to get sharper. I still think Brock's best days are ahead."

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Alex Smith: 49ers QB Brock Purdy has 'great chance' to win Super Bowl

Read full story at source