The San Francisco 49ers entered last season with high expectations.

They were fresh off a failed trip to the Super Bowl and were supposed to be a powerhouse again.

Instead, injuries derailed their aspirations, and now this offseason, they’ve lost some of their best players.

As tough as that could make things for them to get back to contention, Frank Schwab of Yahoo! Sports believes it could benefit Brock Purdy’s case for NFL MVP.

“If Purdy plays well down the stretch and the 49ers make the playoffs, the narrative part will come along too. The 49ers have lost some talent, and the newly-paid Purdy would be credited for carrying a lesser supporting cast into the playoffs. He’ll put up good numbers, as he always does in Kyle Shanahan’s offense,” Schwab wrote. “Purdy could finish the season with the numbers, team success, narrative and newness on his side. That would have him in the MVP discussion. That’s all you could ever ask from a 28-to-1 shot.”

For years, voters have ignored all non-quarterbacks for the award, so chances are that the MVP will go to the quarterback from a playoff team.

Some expect the Niners to regress vastly, and given the narrative around Purdy, it would certainly help his reputation to make the playoffs with a not-as-talented team.

The talk about Purdy has always been polarizing, as some state that he’s got the numbers to back up his case as a high-end quarterback, while others believe he’s just a product of Shanahan’s offensive system and the Niners’ plethora of talent.

San Francisco just gave Purdy a huge contract extension when it didn’t need to.

The Niners could’ve kept him around for far less money had they simply chosen to franchise-tag him when the time came.

But with big money, big responsibilities also come.

He’s no longer on a bargain deal, and as such, he will be held to a much higher standard from now on.

NEXT:  Cam Skattebo Says He Expected To Play For 1 NFC West Team