Tom Brady’s ex-teammate Aqib Talib takes subtle dig at Brock Purdy while naming Brandon Aiyuk as a Top-3 receiver

During a recent talk with Kay Adams, Super Bowl winner Aqib Talib asserted that Brandon Aiyuk is a top receiver and could win it all if a real quarterback is throwing him passes instead of Brock Purdy.

Tom Brady’s ex-teammate Aqib Talib takes subtle dig at Brock Purdy while naming Brandon Aiyuk as a Top-3 receiver

(L) Aqib Talib and (R) Brock Purdy (Image via IMAGO)

Brock Purdy has constantly ranked in the top 3 in almost every quarterback category since the San Francisco 49ers picked him last overall in 2022. Yet, the numbers don’t matter to Aqib Talib.

The Super Bowl-winning cornerback took a subtle jab at Purdy while discussing Brandon Aiyuk’s stalled contract talks with the 49ers. In his view, Aiyuk would put up even better numbers when receiving from an elite quarterback.

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[Brandon] Aiyuk is emerging. He’s probably my top 3 receiver right now. You get him with a real quarterback and he can go crazy.
Aqib Talib told Kay Adams, host of FanDuel’s Up and Adams on Wednesday

Adams seemed surprised to hear Talib picking Aiyuk as a top-3 receiver. The former Patriots defensive back sounded confident in his choice.

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I don’t only go off the stats. I go of the player. And his body control, his routes, his hands, his speed—he can easily be a top receiver in the league. If you make him the focal guy of a team, he will go crazy.
Aqib Talib added

The ‘real quarterback’ statement sounded slightly condescending because Purdy’s record in the past couple of years as a starter has been sublime. The Iowa graduate is 17-4 in the regular season and threw 308 passes for 4280 yards, 9.6 yards per attempt, with a passer rating of 113.0 and 31 passing touchdowns.

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Does Aqib Talib not believe Brock Purdy is a top quarterback?

Aiyuk’s first two years in San Francisco weren’t as productive before Purdy became the quarterback. After the 24-year-old took over, Aiyuk recorded a consecutive 1000-yard season and a total of 15 touchdowns. However, his recent urgency of playing with former college teammate Jayden Daniels in Washington perhaps gave Talib a hint that Aiyuk will record more yards somewhere else.

Tom Brady's ex-teammate Aqib Talib takes subtle dig at Brock Purdy while naming Brandon Aiyuk as a Top-3 receiver
Brock Purdy (Image via IMAGO)

At the tail end of their interview, Adams once again questioned Talib if Purdy didn’t count as a top quarterback.

Purdy’s a real quarterback… [Yet] I feel like if you move him to other teams, I feel like he will still be successful, but just so happened he went to San Fran, and he is real comfortable in that system, so..
Aqib Talib said

So, basically. Talib went back to Purdy, being a ‘system quarterback’ narrative. A title that has haunted him more than being ‘Mr. Irrelevant.’

Purdy, on the other hand, wears the label like a badge of honor.

I feel like it can be a compliment sometimes. You get a guy who can come in and run the system well. So you're doing things right mentally, and you're good enough to be able to hit guys who are open and make plays.
Brock Purdy said per Sports Illustrated

Unlike previous years when he missed the offseason due to injury, this year he trained hard with the 49ers and even gained extra muscle. Currently, Purdy is a favorite to lead the Bay Arena franchise to consecutive Super Bowls.

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