How High Would 49ers QB Brock Purdy Get Drafted This Year?
Brock Purdy famously was the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft -- he was "Mr. Irrelevant." Since then, he's had so much success in the NFL, teams have begun to change how they scout quarterbacks as more and more look for the next Pury.
So where would the original Purdy get drafted this year if he were eligible, now that teams seem to value the traits that make him good -- experience in college, maturity, accuracy, decisiveness and mobility.
I'm guessing Purdy wouldn't get drafted in the seventh round.
I also don't think he'd get drafted in the top 10. As well as he has performed, teams still want elite physical traits when they draft a quarterback in the top 10. They're still looking for the next Patrick Mahomes or the next Josh Allen at that point in the draft.
But Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is projected to get picked in the top 20 according to CBS. Call this the Purdy Effect. His success has boosted the stock of quarterbacks who are similar to him.
Physically, Purdy and McCarthy have lots in common. But McCarthy threw just 713 passes in college while Purdy threw 1,467. And McCarthy played on an elite team while Purdy didn't.
Which means the transition to the pros will be much more difficult for McCarthy than it was for Purdy. Purdy had the experience and the maturity to take over the 49ers immediately when he got the opportunity -- he even told George Kittle to shut up in the huddle.
McCarthy doesn't seem to have that maturity yet. He has a therapist on the sideline who checks in with him during games. And that's fine, but he doesn't come across as a player who could handle the pressure Purdy's under.
Which means Purdy would have to get drafted in the top 20 as well. Maybe even the top 15.
