Brock Purdy: How Mr. Irrelevant became a star of the 2022 NFL season
Brock Purdy, the final player to be chosen in the last NFL Draft and thus dubbed Mr. Irrelevant, is now key to the success of the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL Draft consists of around 260 picks spread out over seven rounds- although the exact number varies by year- and every season since 1976 there’s been a tradition of dubbing the last man picked as ‘Mr. Irrelevant’. Historically, these players have had little prominence, especially quarterbacks.
Injuries make Mr. Irrelevant relevant
This has changed in 2022 thanks to one man: Brock Purdy, selected by the San Francisco 49ers as the 262nd pick in the last NFL Draft. The Niners signed Purdy to be their third quarterback, but injuries have precipitated his appearance as a starter.
First, Trey Lance went down, then Jimmy Garoppolo. Both were safe bets, while Purdy presented himself as a player with no background in the league and no indication that he was destined to be a great quarterback.
Purdy to the playoffs
The Iowa State man found himself with the task of leading a team that had been on track to the Super Bowl, and in just three games he has become an NFL sensation. With three straight victories in which he delivered brilliant performances, he has already secured a playoffs berth for the 49ers.
The QB has also broken several barriers: he was the first Mr. Irrelevant to complete a forward pass and throw a touchdown pass. He is now also the only rookie to beat the great Tom Brady in his first career start as a quarterback.
The league, without a doubt, has found itself a new star.