49ers' Brock Purdy: Mr. Irrelevant ranks among millennium's top QB values

The San Francisco 49ers struck gold with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. After trading a haul of selections the previous year to move up for Trey Lance—a move many franchises wouldn't have survived—the 49ers rebounded with a historic draft steal in quarterback Brock Purdy.

Initially seen as a developmental prospect, Purdy stepped into the starting role late in his rookie season following injuries to Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, and he never looked back. Just three years later, Purdy became the highest-paid player in franchise history, signing a five-year, $265 million contract extension.

In a recent feature, NFL.com's Eric Edholm ranked the top five NFL Draft values of the millennium at quarterback. Unsurprisingly, Tom Brady topped the list, having been selected in the sixth round in 2000 before going on to build a Hall of Fame résumé that included winning seven Super Bowls.

The rest of Edholm's list includes Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, and Russell Wilson. Rounding out the top five—Brock Purdy.

"The title of Mr. Irrelevant, annually awarded to the final player selected in the NFL draft, always felt like something of a backhanded compliment -- at least, until Purdy made it much cooler," Edholm wrote. "Taken with pick No. 262 (tied for the latest pick since the seven-round format was introduced in 1994), Purdy was thrown into the mix in December of his rookie year, leading the 49ers to seven straight wins (including two in the playoffs) before suffering a major elbow injury in the 49ers' NFC Championship Game loss.

"Purdy not only recovered from the injury, but he turned in his finest season to date in 2023, finishing fourth in the MVP voting and leading the Niners back to the Super Bowl. They might have lost that game to the Chiefs, but Purdy's play earned him a new level of respect. Even a down 2024 season didn't dissuade the franchise from making him one of the 10 highest-paid players in the NFL, at an average of $53 million per year."

While Purdy's career is still in its early stages compared to the other quarterbacks on the list, his impact has been undeniable. In just three seasons, he has shown that he belongs in the conversation among the league's top signal-callers.

Still, critics remain. Some argue that Purdy's success is more a byproduct of Kyle Shanahan's offensive system and the talent surrounding him than his own skill. The 49ers' 6-11 finish in 2024—marred by widespread injuries—only fueled that narrative, as Purdy struggled to carry the team through adversity.

Now entering the 2025 season following a significant roster overhaul to accommodate his new massive salary, all eyes will be on Purdy to prove he can lead the team through a new era.

"Purdy's body of work remains incomplete and doesn't stack up next to those of some Hall of Fame-caliber passers drafted in the past 25 years," Edholm added. "But none of them were drafted in this range. While we don't yet know if Purdy will become one of the all-time greats, his impressive résumé, contract extension, and surprising draft pedigree make him worthy of inclusion on this list."