Is Brock Purdy the 49ers’ Best Quarterback Since Jeff Garcia?

Remember, Garcia won a playoff game when he was down 24 points midway through the third quarter.

People love to debate whether Brock Purdy is good enough to win the Super Bowl, and soon we'll learn the answer to that question. But there is no debate that he's the 49ers' best quarterback since Jeff Garcia. Meaning better than Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Smith had a phenomenal playoff win over the Saints, but his tenure with the 49ers was defined by hesitancy and an unwillingness to pull the trigger and potentially make mistakes. He was too conservative.

Kaepernick was one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the NFL during his peak and he helped lead the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance. But his peak was short lived, and he wasn't nearly as accurate as Purdy.

Garoppolo also went to a Super Bowl, something Purdy hasn't accomplished yet. But Garoppolo was a statue who seemed to panic the longer he held the ball. Purdy is much more mobile and confident in his ability to make plays if receivers aren't open.

Purdy clearly is better than those three. He's more aggressive than Smith, a more efficient passer than Kaepernick and a more effective runner than Garoppolo.

But is Purdy better than Garcia? 

Those two are similar in so many ways. Like Purdy, Garcia was a shorter quarterback who could scramble and push the ball down the field, although he had a much stronger arm than Purdy. The difference is Purdy played on much better teams than Garcia, who would have been an MVP candidate on this 49ers team.

Remember, Garcia won a playoff game when he was down 24 points midway through the third quarter. That's one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Purdy's best comeback victory came against the lowly Raiders when he was down by 10.

Of course, Purdy could surpass Garcia with a Super Bowl victory this season.