FROM IRRELEVANT TO RELEVANT:
Every football fan knows the yet-to-be-concluded story of Brock Richard Purdy. In less than two years, Brock Purdy has transformed from the last pick in the draft to the leader of the NFC champions. While Kyle Shanahan’s system and the 49ers’ weapons have most definitely helped Purdy improve and develop, his accomplishments can no longer be overlooked. Brock Purdy is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. With that said, the question must be asked, why did nobody want Brock Purdy? To find an answer, let’s look deeper at “Mr. Irrelevant’s” journey.
BROCK PURDY’S PRE-NFL CAREER:
Brock Purdy attended Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona. As a 3-star recruit, Brock Purdy elected to play his college ball at Iowa State University. From 1973 until Purdy, only 3 Iowa State quarterbacks started NFL games. Therefore, playing for the Cyclones already shifted the odds against Brock Purdy.
Purdy got in the mix instantly, throwing 16 touchdown passes in his freshman year in 2018. The following season, Purdy took over as the full-time starter. In 2019, with Purdy under center, the Cyclones went 7W-5L before getting blown out in the Camping World Bowl 33-9 by Norte Dame. In Purdy’s junior year, the Cyclones erupted. Purdy led the squad to a 9W-3L record, finishing 9th in the final AP poll, Iowa State’s first-ever top-10 finish. Purdy finished the year with 2,750 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 382 rushing yards, and 5 rushing touchdowns. Following the season, the question was asked, had the Cyclones leaned on Purdy instead of handing the ball to Breece Hall 23.25 times per game, would Purdy be more productive or less efficient?
The following season, Hall had 26 fewer rushing attempts, and Purdy had 42 more rushing attempts. As a result, Iowa State dropped back down to 7W-5L, plus a 20-13 loss to Clemson in the Cheez-It Bowl. Purdy did throw for a career-high 3,188 yards and matched his junior year with 19 passing touchdowns. Therefore, Purdy still had hope of being drafted and declared for the NFL draft. Overall, in 48 college football games, Purdy threw for 12,170 yards, and 81 passing touchdowns, to only 33 picks, while adding 19 touchdowns and 1,177 yards on the ground. After an average combine performance, Purdy’s odds of getting selected in the NFL draft were about 50/50.
MR. IRRELEVANT’S ROOKIE YEAR:
Brock Purdy watched the first and second days of the draft come and pass. He wasn’t selected, but that came as no surprise. The question was day 3. On the third day of the 2022 draft, all of Brock Purdy’s dreams would either come true or go up in flames. The day went by, and the clock started to tick faster and faster. Just when Purdy was about to lose hope, with one last pick remaining, Purdy got a call, from John Lynch and the San Francisco 49ers.
Purdy would have to prove himself just to make the team, never mind to get on the field. After an impressive training camp, Brock Purdy was listed as the 49ers’ 3rd quarterback, behind veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and rising star Trey Lance. It would take several coincidences for Purdy to get a shot. Nevertheless, Lance went down, with a fractured ankle in Week 2 of the 2022 season, moving Purdy to second on the depth chart. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a foot injury during a week 13 matchup with the Miami Dolphins, and Purdy got his shot. Purdy tossed 2 touchdown passes and 210 yards on his way to leading San Francisco to a 33-17 win.
The following week, in his first career start, Brock Purdy was faced with a challenge that no Mr. Irrelevant had ever seen before. In week 14, Purdy and the 49ers faced Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Purdy shocked the world by scoring 3 touchdowns and blowing out the GOAT 35-7. On that day, Brock Purdy announced to the NFL that this Mr. Irrelevant might not be so irrelevant. Purdy then led the 49ers’ on a historic run, going undefeated through the divisional round of the playoffs. However, after 7 magical games, in the NFC Championship game, disaster struck. While going back to throw, Eagels’ edge rusher Hasaan Reddick reached for the ball and hit Purdy’s arm. With so much momentum going forward, the force had nowhere to go, and his ulnar collateral ligament split. Without Purdy, the 49ers were no match for the Eagles and got blown out 31-7.
MR. IRRELEVANT’S SOPHOMORE YEAR:
After the injury, the Brock Purdy doubters began to resurface. The injury required surgery and a long recovery. It was unclear if Purdy would be ready for week 1 of the next season, and if so, it was unclear if he would ever be the same quarterback. Even if everything went as planned, it was unclear whether he was legit or a fluke. Due to the amount of unanswered questions, many, including myself called for the 49ers to plan for Purdy to start the season on the bench. Nonetheless, Purdy worked hard and found a way to be ready in time to start the year, and despite Sam Darnold having a good preseason, Purdy remained the starting quarterback.
As you all know, Kyle Shanahan didn’t regret sticking with Purdy. Brock Purdy was nothing short of incredible in 2023, leading the 49ers to a 12W-5L record and the top seed in the NFC. In 16 games Purdy threw for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns while adding 144 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. Purdy’s offense rarely turned the ball over, as the 49ers finished the year with a +10 turnover ratio. Purdy and San Francisco snuck past the Green Bay Packers 24-21 in the divisional round.
Now back in the NFC Championship game, it was time for Mr. Irrelevant’s revenge. However, Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions had other plans. Led by touchdowns from both of their running backs, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, the Lions' offense put up 24 points in the first half. Meanwhile, Purdy failed to fight back. Detroit’s defense picked off Purdy once in the first half and didn’t allow him to score. The Lions took a 24-7 lead into the locker room at halftime. Things were looking bleak for Purdy, but he had come too far to lose it all now. Purdy played his heart out in the second half. While his stat line may have not been so special, he did exactly what he needed to do to maximize the potential of the players around him. The 49ers fought back and took a 27-24 lead. Due to a failed 4th down conversion, Purdy got the ball back with a chance to put the Lions away. Purdy led the team right down the field on a great drive, capitalized by a 3-yard Elijah Mitchell touchdown run. Brock Purdy has done it, he has gone from Mr. irrelevant to the starting quarterback in the most watched sporting event in America, the Super Bowl!
WHAT WE MISSED:
Coming out of college, Brock Purdy was overlooked for a number of reasons. He was too small, he played in a relatively weak conference, and he was carried by the run game. I have answers to all three issues, however they’re mostly reaches (Evaluating quarterbacks is difficult).
Brock Purdy does have a relatively small 6 foot 1, 220-pound frame compared to the average NFL quarterback’s 6 foot 3 height. However, while size can be a plus, negative size should no longer be viewed as a deal-breaker! Here are a couple of quarterbacks 6 foot 2 and under who have started in a Super Bowl since 2010: 1) Drew Brees 2) Russell Wilson 3) Jimmy Garoppolo 4) Jalen Hurts. While being short may be a disadvantage, it doesn’t mean the quarterback is any worse than his film shows.
Purdy did play in the Big 12, a relatively weak conference, however, his tape shows an upside that would be relevant in any conference. His deadly accuracy would be effective in any conference. Matter of fact, it probably would’ve been more noticeable against better competition, as he would’ve been required to fit passes into tiger windows. In addition, while the defensive schemes may have not been as sophisticated in the Big 12, Purdy’s 3.66 GPA indicated that he was smart enough to read the more complicated defenses regardless of who he was playing.
Finally, my favorite argument. Scouts said that Purdy didn’t carry the load in college and was simply surrounded by the likes of Breece Hall and Xavier Hutchinson. However, I see that as a plus. As we’ve seen him do at the NFL level better than anyone over the past two years, Purdy gets the most out of the players around him. Purdy might not make the type of plays that Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson do, but there is definitely room in the NFL for a quarterback who can do the most with what’s given to him. If you spend all your resources on a good head coach and supporting cast, a quarterback like Brock Purdy is the perfect fit for your team.
In conclusion, Brock Purdy’s story should change the way college quarterbacks are evaluated. If you put together a solid supporting cast, look for an accurate, consistent, and intelligent quarterback outside the first round. If you put together a solid supporting cast, you don’t need to spend a top-5 pick on a quarterback like the Panthers and Texans, or trade away many valuable picks for a quarterback like the Browns and Broncos, or spend half your cap space on a quarterback like the Saints and Vikings. If you put together a solid supporting cast, just find yourself a Brock Purdy.
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