Just three weeks into his San Francisco 49ers career, Mike Evans was asked to describe the play of his new quarterback, Brock Purdy.
Evans shook his head as if in disbelief, then offered a simple response: "The highest level that you can play."
Evans, 33, is no stranger to elite quarterbacks. He was teammates with Tom Brady for three seasons with the Buccaneers, where they won Super Bowl LV. So Evans' praise for Purdy was telling after just three games together and limited offseason work.
Purdy has led the 49ers to a masterful 6-1 start, which has them in prime position to chase a divisional title for the first time since 2023. But the offense has shown cracks in recent weeks, particularly over the last three halves of football since Evans went down with an Achilles injury.
With San Francisco on its Week 8 bye and gearing up for the second half of the season, it's time to answer a pressing question: What are Purdy's early chances of winning the Most Valuable Player award? Let's evaluate.
Purdy started his season atop nearly every passing category. On Sept. 10 in Australia, he diced up the sleepy Los Angeles Rams for three touchdowns and 205 passing yards in a 27-7 blowout. Then Pur...