Brock Purdy was limited to nine games last year while dealing with a turf toe injury he suffered in the season opener.
Somehow, someway, the 49ers still managed to win 12 games thanks to Mac Jones stepping in and stabilizing things.
But for the 49ers to maximize the 2026 season, they need their starting quarterback to stay healthy. If so, Purdy gives his team an edge at QB more often than not.
Here is a ranking of the opposing quarterbacks the 49ers will face this season and who we believe has the edge:
1. Matthew Stafford, Rams, Week 1 and 14
It’s hard to believe, but at 38 years old, Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career. At the least, he’s in complete control of the most important position on the field and in total command from a mental and physical standpoint.
And it doesn’t look like he’s going to take a step back anytime soon.
Edge: Rams
2. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, Week 16
Mahomes is coming off a serious late-season injury. It could bleed into the 2026 season, affecting his availability and potentially even his effectiveness. But by Week 16, assuming he doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he should be back to the top of his game.
Edge: Chiefs
3. Justin Herbert, Chargers, Week 15
Herbert has been a top-five quarterback for years now, and with the Chargers getting their two starting tackles back after both missed the bulk of last season, Herbert should be far better protected than he was last season.
He’s also working with former 49ers assistant and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who has some plans in mind for increasing Herbert’s efficiency.
That is a scary proposition for the NFL.
Edge: Chargers
4. Jayden Daniels, Commanders, Week 6
Daniels was brilliant as a rookie two years ago but suffered through an injury-plagued sophomore season. If he’s back to form, Daniels could easily be in the top three on this list.
He’s that good, that dynamic, and that dominant.
But we have to see where he is, health and effectiveness-wise, come Week 6.
Edge: Push
5. Dak Prescott, Cowboys, Week 10
When healthy, Prescott has been a top-12 to top-five quarterback throughout his career. But injuries and coaching and supporting-cast issues have always undermined him.
Bottom line, he’s a handful to deal with, and the 49ers will have their work cut out for them defensively.
Edge: Push
6. Sam Darnold, Seahawks, Week 5 and 12
Darnold has had a magical, even unprecedented career revival. Thanks in large part to the year he spent in San Francisco relearning how to play quarterback under Kyle Shanahan, Klint Kubiak and the rest of the 49ers’ offensive staff.
It all culminated with Darnold leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl championship last season.
Many believe he still has room for growth.
Edge: Push
7. Jalen Hurts, Eagles, Week 17
Something felt off last year in Philadelphia in terms of how the Eagles crafted game plans for Hurts. For some inexplicable reason, they seemed to handcuff him and in the process eliminated some of his most powerful attributes.
That included his big throwing arm and his legs.
A fresh new plan is needed. If so, Hurts has a chance to get back to being his former self.
Edge: 49ers
8. Bo Nix, Broncos, Week 4
Davis Webb is the new playcaller in Denver. He is expected to be far more aggressive in letting Nix loose earlier in games compared with Sean Payton, who overmanaged Nix through the first three quarters only to have to unleash him in the fourth quarter to win the game.
We’re about to find out if Nix is up to the challenge of being a heavily leaned-on quarterback or one who needs to be carefully managed.
Edge: 49ers
9. Kirk Cousins/Fernando Mendoza, Raiders, Week 9
We aren’t entirely sure who the Raiders quarterback will be at this stage of the season. Ideally, it’s Mendoza, whom they selected first overall in the NFL draft and believe can be the franchise-caliber quarterback they have been lacking for decades.
If so, it will be interesting just how advanced Mendoza is by Week 9.
Edge: 49ers
10. Kyler Murray, Vikings, Week 11
Murray hopes to revive his career in Minnesota under noted offensive guru Kevin O’Connell. By all measures, the former top overall pick is in the best situation of his career. There is talent everywhere he looks, including one of the best wide receivers in the NFL: Justin Jefferson.
Now it’s on Murray to show he wasn’t the problem in Arizona. It was a Cardinals issue.
Edge: 49ers
11. Jaxson Dart, Giants, Week 13
The Giants think they have their quarterback of the future in Dart, now in his second season after being selected in the first round of last year’s draft.
For that to even come close to happening, though, he needs to stay healthy. And it’s a mindset issue more than anything else. Dart needs to eliminate all the irresponsible hits he seeks and absorbs and play far smarter football.
But will he?
Edge: 49ers
12. Tua Tagovailoa/Michael Penix, Falcons, Week 7
Penix seems to be progressing from the knee surgery he underwent in November. But it will be interesting to see who the Falcons hand the keys to between him and Tagovailoa, who arrives in Atlanta from Miami, hoping to get his career back on track.
In either case, it feels like a volatile quarterback situation in Atlanta. One that could go in any direction, up or down.
Edge: 49ers
13. Malik Willis, Dolphins, Week 2
Willis is one of the most fascinating quarterbacks in the league in 2026. Mostly from an intrigue factor. He only threw 89 passes over the last two seasons in Green Bay, but he brilliantly maximized them by completing over 78.7% of his throws with eight touchdowns and no interceptions.
The problem is, he doesn’t have nearly the help in Miami that he had in Green Bay. At least this season.
Edge: 49ers
14. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals, Weeks 3 & 18
No telling who the Cardinals quarterback is in 2026. It could be Brissett, it could be Gardner Minshew, or it could be Carson Beck.
Only Beck has a chance to raise the needle. And that might be a stretch.
Edge: 49ers
