BREAKING: Former NFL head coach mentioned he “got blocked” when attempting to draft Brock Purdy.

It’s certainly intriguing to speculate how Brock Purdy’s career might have unfolded if he had been drafted by the Carolina Panthers instead of the San Francisco 49ers. The differences in coaching staff, offensive system, and supporting cast could have had a significant impact on his development and success in the NFL.

In San Francisco, Purdy has benefited from playing in Kyle Shanahan’s QB-friendly system, which emphasizes play-action passing, ball distribution to dynamic playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk, and utilizing a strong running game to set up the pass. This system has allowed quarterbacks like Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance to thrive and could have similarly boosted Purdy’s performance.

However, if Purdy had been drafted by the Carolina Panthers, he would have been under the guidance of head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Joe Brady (assuming he was still with the team at the time). The Panthers’ offensive system may have been different from Shanahan’s, potentially emphasizing different aspects of Purdy’s skill set. Additionally, playing alongside talented receivers like DJ Moore and potentially Terrace Marshall Jr., with the threat of Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, could have provided Purdy with a strong supporting cast to work with.

Ultimately, the success of a quarterback in the NFL depends on a combination of talent, coaching, supporting cast, and opportunity. While Purdy has flourished in San Francisco, there’s no guarantee that he would have had the same level of success in Carolina. Each team offers a unique environment and set of circumstances that can shape a player’s career trajectory.