Las Vegas — Not long ago, a wealth manager, a former payroll expert, and a tractor company employee were all regarded as superior quarterbacks to San Francisco 49ers star Brock Purdy, who will compete on pro football’s biggest stage this weekend.
Purdy’s rapid climb — from dead-last draft pick to MVP finalist and Super Bowl signal caller — exposed the virtually impossible problem of predicting future football talent in evaluations that frequently make or destroy careers.
Purdy maintains that his long, under-the-radar career has been a blessing in disguise.
“It’s been the story of my life, being overlooked in high school, I wasn’t a high recruit,” Purdy told reporters Thursday. “All I needed was a shot and an opportunity, which coach [Matt] Campbell provided me. I’m at Iowa State, and life is repeating itself. I was drafted last, went to the Niners, and was given an opportunity.”
Before Purdy, branded Mr. Irrelevant as the 262nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, made the Niners roster out of training camp, his chances of even playing major college football appeared slim.
Purdy graduated from Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, in 2018, ranked as the No. 39 pocket passer in his class by ESPN’s recognized evaluators. He was barely recruited before enrolling at Iowa State, a mid-tier college in the dominant Big 12 Conference.
Only three of the 38 quarterbacks ranked above of Purdy wore NFL uniforms in 2023: No. 1 Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 5 Tanner McKee, a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles, and No. 35 Will Levis of the Tennessee Titans.
