Brock Purdy Is A “Far Better” Quarterback Than Jalen Hurts, Claims Craig Carton

Craig Carton has more faith in Brock Purdy than he does in Jalen Hurts despite the latter winning a Super Bowl.

Brock Purdy Is A “Far Better” Quarterback Than Jalen Hurts, Claims Craig Carton

Craig Carton believes Brock Purdy is better than Jalen Hurts despite the latter winning a Super Bowl.

One year ago, the debate between who was the better quarterback, Brock Purdy or Jalen Hurts, seemed to have no end in sight. After all, both quarterbacks were capable of leading their teams to the Super Bowl, but both had lost to Patrick Mahomes. Fast forward to February 2025, and Hurts did what Purdy could not: beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

This achievement alone should be enough to end the debate, right? Not according to notable football analyst Craig Carton. When asked which of the two quarterbacks he would rather be the starter for the New York Jets, Carton instantly picked Brock Purdy over Jalen Hurts.

This is easy for me. This one takes no thought whatsoever. He’s a far better quarterback. Brock Purdy does everything better than Jalen Hurts, and I think Jalen Hurts is a damn good quarterback…but the guy (Purdy) is a machine.

Craig Carton said

The numbers would support Carton’s statement as Brock Purdy finished the last season with 3,864 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and a QBR of 67.9. Jalen Hurts threw for 2,903 yards, 18 touchdowns, and had a QBR of 65.6. However, one of the two quarterbacks was able to successfully lead their team to a Super Bowl win.

Besides, Hurts’ numbers are lower due to the Eagles’ offensive playbook. The team fully utilized Saquon Barkley, which reduced the offensive burden on Jalen Hurts to an extent. The 49ers’ offense was heavily pass-reliant this year as Christian McCaffrey was out for most of the year.

Brock Purdy’s recent contract deems him more valuable than Jalen Hurts

The last year has been a rocky road for Purdy and the 49ers. Injuries ruined the team’s season, and a franchise that made it to the Super Bowl one year ago was unable even to make it to the playoffs. If Jalen Hurts were in the same situation as Purdy, would he have been able to lead the team to the Super Bowl? It becomes a complicated question to answer with certainty.

Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy
Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy (Images via IMAGO)

It is like comparing apples with oranges. Both quarterbacks are in different situations, and their rosters are built differently. It is fair to say that Jalen Hurts was in a better situation and made the most of it. The quarterback’s intangibles make him unique; he has emerged as the gold standard for franchise quarterbacks in the NFL.

In terms of financial compensation, Brock Purdy’s latest deal pays him more than what the Eagles pay Hurts. The 49ers’ quarterback earns $53 million per year, whereas Hurts makes $51 million. Overall, Purdy’s contract is for five years and is worth $265 million, whereas Hurts’ deal is for $255 million.

Carton’s comments suggesting Purdy is better than Hurts are interesting because they elicit the question, ‘Does winning a Super Bowl make a quarterback better than his peers, even if the other QBs have better numbers?’ The response will vary from person to person, but the masses would respond with an affirmative ‘Yes’ to that question. The upcoming season will be an important one for both Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy.

The former will set out to prove that this Eagles team is capable of going back to the Super Bowl, and the latter will set out to prove that his 2023 Super Bowl run was not a fluke. This season, Purdy is expected to get his star workhorse, Christian McCaffrey, from the start of the season.

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