How Rule Changes have Enabled 49ers QB Brock Purdy to Dominate

Brock Purdy doesn't get the respect he deserves, mostly because the league hasn't realized that it has made him the new paradigm at quarterback by changing certain rules.

One, they've limited practice time so drastically, it's almost impossible to develop young quarterbacks the way Bill Walsh developed Steve Young. There simply isn't enough time on the field in the offseason or during the season to develop talented-yet-inexperienced passers -- see Trey Lance. The 49ers had to learn the hard way with him. Fortunately, they also drafted Purdy, who started four years in college, which means he was almost fully developed before he entered the NFL. This gives Purdy a huge advantage, because the NFL no longer is a developmental league.

Two, the rookie wage scale, which has existed since 2011, gives young quarterbacks like Purdy a giant competitive edge over veterans, because he makes less than $1 million per season, while the typical veteran starting quarterback makes at least $25 million per season. So Purdy's team has extra salary cap space to add extra talent.

Three, defenses can't really hit quarterbacks anymore. They can't hit them too high or two low or land on them after hitting them. Last week, a defender ran into Purdy and got flagged 15 yards, mostly because Purdy is small and when he gets hit, it looks painful. Which means quarterbacks don't have to be big anymore. And they don't have to have strong arms, either. They can simply throw 10-to-15 yard passes over the middle all game because defenders can't hit defenseless receivers anymore.

Playing quarterback in the NFL is easier than ever, as Purdy has shown everyone. It's not his fault the league watered itself down.