Meet this year's Mr. Irrelevant: Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy
After three days of boring filler, we finally got to the 2022 NFL draft’s main event on Saturday afternoon.
That’s right, folks. I’m talking about everyone’s favorite annual tradition: The selection of Mr. Irrelevant — a title all players surely covet.
This year, that distinction goes to Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, who was taken with the final pick in the draft at No. 262 in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers.
Purdy is almost inarguably the best passer in Cyclones history. A former three-star recruit, he won the starting job five games into his true freshman season in 2018 and never looked back. He started 46 games over four years, becoming the winningest quarterback in program history with a 30-17 record.
He also essentially rewrote Iowa State’s career passing record book in the process. Far from irrelevant, I would say.
Purdy, a two-time First Team All-Big 12 selection, joins a group of only 47 players to share the title of “Mr. Irrelevant,” which was officially coined in 1976. He’s the first quarterback to be taken with the final pick since Chad Kelly in 2017.
He faces a crowded quarterback room that features a still yet-to-be-traded Jimmy Garoppolo and his heir apparent in last year’s third-overall pick, Trey Lance. Still, Purdy will try to compete for a spot on the final 53-man roster and seems like a prime developmental candidate for the 49ers’ practice squad.
And, if nothing else, maybe he’ll get to keep the novelty triple-digit jersey.