49ers’ Brock Purdy proved there’s little science to drafting QBs

NFL

by brian costello

In less than a week, we’ll be kicking off Super Bowl talk and officially into the NFL offseason, which means plenty of draft talk, mock drafts, prospect screening, and, of course, quarterback discussions. Become.

The 49ers’ trip to the 2024 Super Bowl provides further evidence that drafting quarterbacks is no science.

Brock Purdy was the 262nd pick in 2022, the last player drafted, and the ninth quarterback drafted.

Now he’s starting in the Super Bowl.

This came after San Francisco traded three first-round picks for Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft and paid quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo more than $20 million annually.

The 49ers, who went the big-money route and first-round pick route, stumbled upon a quarterback at the end of the seventh round.

Owner Jed York spoke to reporters in California last week and recalled when 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan first said Purdy might be better than expected.

This conversation occurred about a week into 2022 training camp, when Lance and Garoppolo were still above Purdy on the depth chart.

“He was like, ‘I think our third-string quarterback is our best quarterback,'” York said. “I was like, ‘Okay. What does that mean?’

We’ve seen Cinderella stories as quarterbacks in the Super Bowl before.

Tom Brady, who would go on to win seven Super Bowls, was a surprising star who was drafted in the sixth round in the first Super Bowl against the Rams.

Kurt Warner went undrafted and led the Rams to the Super Bowl.

But what makes Purdy’s story so interesting is how many avenues the 49ers went through in their search for a franchise quarterback before finding him with the last pick of the draft.

“One of the things owners don’t want to hear when they invest money or draft picks or both in talent is that the last pick in the draft is the player we think is the best.” York said. “That’s not good news in general. But [Shanahan’s] Honest and he let it play out the right way. ”

Purdy is the only QB drafted in 2022 to have significant success.

Kenny Pickett played against the Steelers in the first round, but he hasn’t been a consistent starter.

Desmond Ridder, taken in the second round by the Falcons, and Sam Howell, taken in the fifth round by the Commanders, are the starters, but will likely be replaced in 2024.

Malik Willis and Matt Corral were third-round picks by the Titans and Panthers, respectively, but have not played much.

The Patriots took Bailey Zappe in the fourth round, and although he replaced Mac Jones this year, he is not expected to start in 2024.

Before Purdy, the Steelers took Chris Oladokun in the seventh round, but he is currently on the Chiefs’ practice squad.

Lance was part of the much-hyped class of 2021, and now it looks awful.

Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars), Zach Wilson (Jets), Lance, Justin Fields (Bears), and Jones all advanced to the first round.

Lawrence is the only player guaranteed to start next season on the team that drafts him.

Lance was scheduled to be a starter in 2022, but was injured in Week 2.

Garoppolo took over but left in Week 13, and Purdy won the starting job but never gave it back.

He started the first seven games, but suffered an elbow injury in the NFC Championship game that cost Purdy and the 49ers.

“When Brock took over last year, I think we were calm and there was a sense that nothing was going to surprise us,” York said. “You may not like everything Kyle says, but he’s always open and honest, especially in this moment.”

The 49ers traded Lance to the Cowboys for a fourth-round pick after last season and sent Garoppolo to the Raiders as a free agent. Purdy is an MVP finalist and his team is in the Super Bowl.

As we talk endlessly about draft quarterbacks over the next few months, remember Purdy’s lesson.