There is no meaningless selection more meaningful than the final one of the NFL Draft. In 2022, the 49ers got the honor of the last pick at No. 262 overall.
With that pick, they selected Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy, though not necessarily viewed as an elite prospect, had an outstanding college career. He was named to the Second Team All Big-12 twice and made the First Team All Big-12 in his junior year, when he was named the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, in Iowa State’s 34-17 win over Oregon.
He had a stellar college career, as evidenced by his career stat sheet.
What do the 49ers like about Purdy?
Kyle Shanahan made a direct comparison to one of his old faves, saying he’s “very similar to Nick Mullens.” He singled out his ability to stand in the pocket under pressure, saying he has great balance and generally doesn’t need great protection to deliver the ball to the right place.
Here’s a tape breakdown of Purdy from J.T. O’Sullivan:
The 49ers said Purdy would have been their top undrafted free agent target, saying it was “perfect” having him available with the final pick. It is not a prerequisite, in their minds, to have someone similar to Trey Lance. Shanahan said he has a real chance to make the roster.
