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Brock Purdy is 1 of only 3 QBs drafted in 2022 still with original team

kyle madson
·2 min read
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Dec 15, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; A fan holds an altered “Mr. Irrelevant” jersey for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (not pictured) during pregame warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. “Mr. Irrelevant” refers to the final pick of the NFL draft. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; A fan holds an altered “Mr. Irrelevant” jersey for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (not pictured) during pregame warmups against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. “Mr. Irrelevant” refers to the final pick of the NFL draft. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Finding a franchise quarterback with the final pick of the 2022 NFL draft was always going to be a massive win for the San Francisco 49ers.

Brock Purdy's emergence as an MVP-caliber signal caller in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense saved San Francisco from certain disaster when the Trey Lance experiment started to show signs of catastrophic failure. Instead of riding it out with a QB still in need of major development, the 49ers managed to make two NFC championship games and a Super Bowl despite their huge swing for Lance.

That alone was going to be enough to make Purdy an all-time draft steal. Mr. Irrelevant had never even completed a pass in the NFL prior to Purdy's first-career completion. Finding a Mr. Irrelevant who is an MVP candidate at quarterback may never happen again.

The rest of the 2022 quarterback class has been bad enough that it actually further highlights the importance and unlikelihood of Purdy's ascension for the 49ers. After Malik Willis was traded by the Titans on Monday ahead of Tuesday's deadline for cuts, only three quarterbacks taken in the 2022 draft remain with the team that selected them.

Here's a quick rundown of how the eight QBs drafted in 2022 have fared:

Round 1, Pick 20 | Kenny Pickett, University of Pittsburgh

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) looks to pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) looks to pass against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Current team: Philadelphia Eagles

Acquired: Trade in March of 2024

Round 3, Pick 74 | QB Desmond Ridder, University of Cincinnati

Aug 25, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder (19) during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 25, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder (19) during the second half against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: Atlanta Falcons

Current team: Arizona Cardinals

Acquired: Trade in March of 2024

Round 3, Pick 83 | Malik Willis

Aug 17, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis (7) catches a snap in the second quarter of the game agains the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Gower-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis (7) catches a snap in the second quarter of the game agains the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Gower-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: Tennessee Titans

Current team: Green Bay Packers

Acquired: Trade in August of 2024

Round 3, Pick 94 | Matt Corral, Ole Miss

Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Corral (17) drops back against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Corral (17) drops back against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: Carolina Panthers

Current team: None

Acquired: Waived in August 2023 by Panthers, released in September 2023 by Patriots, waived in August 2024 by Vikings

Round 4, Pick 137 | QB Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky

Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) looks to pass during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) looks to pass during the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: New England Patriots

Current team: New England Patriots, potential cut

Acquired: NFL draft

Round 5, Pick 144 | Sam Howell, University of North Carolina

Jan 7, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) sits on the field after throwing an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) sits on the field after throwing an interception against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: Washington Commanders

Current team: Seattle Seahawks

Acquired: Trade in March of 2024

Round 7, Pick 241 | Chris Oladokun, South Dakota State

Aug 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (13) looks to pass during the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 10, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (13) looks to pass during the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Current team: Kansas City Chiefs

Acquired: Signed in August 2022

Round 7, Pick 247 | Skylar Thompson, Kansas State

Aug 23, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) drops back to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter during preseason at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 23, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) drops back to pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter during preseason at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Draft team: Miami Dolphins

Current team: Miami Dolphins

Acquired: NFL draft

Round 7, Pick 262 | Brock Purdy, Iowa State

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 28: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 28: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Draft team: San Francisco 49ers

Current team: San Francisco 49ers

Acquired: NFL draft

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Brock Purdy is 1 of only 3 QBs drafted in 2022 still with original team