Should Brock Purdy be in the NFL MVP Discussion?

Brock Purdy has been having quite an impressive season.

The San Francisco 49ers haven't had a starting quarterback play this impressively since Colin Kaepernick. Purdy has thrown for 2,871 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions so far this season with a 70 percent completion percentage. But the numbers do not tell everything as great as they are. Purdy is easily an optimizing figure for the 49ers.

Every star player on offense gets to shine unlike any previous quarterback since Kyle Shanahan became head coach. It's no wonder the offense is putting up 30 or more points a game in almost every win this season. The star talents are being utilized to their potential, and that is thanks largely to Purdy. The 49ers offense is clicking with him being a main factor as to why they are 7-3. In fact, his performances this year have been impressive enough to make the case for him being in the NFL MVP discussion.

So, should Purdy be in those discussions?

Had he played lights out in the 49ers win over the Seahawks in primetime, then absolutely. But since he didn't, he's not there yet. That would've been a statement performance from him had he played great with the entire country watching on Thanksgiving night. Primetime games give a larger emphasis with players when they play incredibly well. Purdy was far from playing at an impressive level against the Seahawks. He completed 21-of-30 passes for 209 yards, one touchdown (a dime to Brandon Aiyuk) and an interception for a touchdown.

Those numbers do not scream "MVP performance" at all and the eye test would support that. In fact, he was part of the reason the Seahawks had life in the third quarter of that game when he threw a pick six. The pass came off Christian McCaffrey's hands, but it was such a high and ill-advised throw, so it fell on him. It was Seattle's only touchdown of the game. Outside of that quarter, he played solid, just not incredibly well as he has for the majority of games this season.

Besides, I would give the nod to McCaffrey as the leader of being the NFL MVP over Purdy after how superb he looked. Things can always change for Purdy, especially with their upcoming matchup with the Eagles in Philadelphia. Purdy can easily enter the MVP discussion and even be the leader if the 49ers win with him playing great. It will be almost like rewriting history from the NFC Championship game that Purdy was essentially knocked out of with an elbow injury.

Purdy still has a chance. He's not there right now and it makes it easier since no other quarterback is really stealing the show. The Eagles game will be a significant factor in getting him there.