49ers' Brock Purdy reveals what he learned from Raiders' Jimmy Garoppolo

Starting quarterback Brock Purdy added his name to the list of San Francisco 49ers players expressing gratitude for all that current Las Vegas Raiders signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo gave to the 49ers during his stint with the organization. 

"At our lockers and stuff we would just talk about life and things that he's been through with football and myself," Purdy said about his rookie-season experiences with Garoppolo, per Ali Thanawalla of NBC Sports Bay Area. "And then obviously, the biggest thing for me was sort of observing. Obviously at practice, yes, but like even in the locker room, how he's talking to guys and interacting with guys in the locker room."

Purdy joined the 49ers as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft and could've begun his debut pro campaign as the primary backup behind Trey Lance had Garoppolo not signed a restructured contract to stay with the team last summer. Once Lance went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, Purdy sat beneath the learning tree as a QB2 until his number was called when Garoppolo suffered a broken foot in early December. 

"So, whether he knows that or not, I learned a lot from him and I'm very appreciative of that," Purdy added about Garoppolo. "...Jimmy did a great job with going through progressions and just the timing and the operation and stuff. And so, I learned from him and when I was the one to go in, I was just trying to do what coach taught us and try to not be late to any reads or progressions or anything like that."

Purdy emerging as a rookie sensation allowed the 49ers to let Garoppolo reach free agency without a fight this past March. The 31-year-old ultimately signed a three-year contract that could be worth up to $72.5M with the Raiders. 

While speaking with reporters after Thursday's joint practice between the 49ers and Raiders concluded, San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner referred to Garoppolo as "a natural-born leader through and through." If such leadership helps Purdy evolve into a long-term franchise player at the sport's most important position, the 49ers will owe Garoppolo plenty for years upon years to come.