It was late. Honestly, it was about as late as you can possibly get in the NFL world without being completely left out in the cold. If you're asking when was brock purdy drafted, the calendar date you’re looking for is April 30, 2022.
But the "when" isn't just a date on a calendar. It was the very last moment of the three-day marathon that is the NFL Draft. Most fans had already turned off their TVs. Analysts were packing up their binders. The San Francisco 49ers held the 262nd pick—a compensatory selection—and they used it on a kid from Iowa State who most scouts thought would be lucky to make a practice squad.
That moment changed the trajectory of the franchise.
The Specifics: Round, Pick, and That Famous Nickname
Brock Purdy didn't just go in the seventh round; he was the literal "anchor" of the class. To be precise, he was selected with the 262nd overall pick in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Because he was the final player taken, he earned the title of Mr. Irrelevant. Usually, this comes with a trip to Newport Beach, a trophy of a player dropping a pass, and a career that lasts about fifteen minutes. People sort of expected him to be a footnote. A trivia answer. Instead, he’s currently sitting on a massive five-year, $265 million contract extension signed in the 2025 offseason, making him one of the highest-paid players in the league.
Life comes at you fast.
The 2022 Quarterback Class Context
To understand why Purdy’s draft slot was so wild, you have to look at who went before him. The 2022 QB class was famously "weak." Only one quarterback, Kenny Pickett, went in the first round.
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- Kenny Pickett (Pick 20)
- Desmond Ridder (Pick 74)
- Malik Willis (Pick 86)
- Matt Corral (Pick 94)
- Bailey Zappe (Pick 137)
- Sam Howell (Pick 144)
- Chris Oladokun (Pick 241)
- Skylar Thompson (Pick 247)
- Brock Purdy (Pick 262)
The Niners themselves had already invested heavily in Trey Lance, trading away three first-round picks to move up and grab him just a year earlier. They weren't looking for a savior when they drafted Purdy. They were basically looking for a "camp arm" to help get through August practices.
Why Did He Fall So Far?
Scouting is an imperfect science. Actually, sometimes it's just a guessing game.
Scouts looked at Purdy and saw a "four-year starter who peaked as a sophomore." That's the actual phrasing from some of the draft profiles. They saw a guy who was 6'1" (short by NFL standards), lacked elite arm strength, and had a "labored release." NFL.com gave him a grade of 5.57, which basically translates to "priority undrafted free agent."
Basically, the experts thought he'd be at home on his couch a week after the draft.
What they missed was the processing. Purdy's father, Shawn Purdy (who played minor league baseball), once mentioned that Brock's speed in flag football—where you only had seven seconds to throw—honed his internal clock. He sees the field faster than guys with 90-mph fastballs for arms.
The Timeline of the Rise
The jump from "Mr. Irrelevant" to "The Guy" didn't happen overnight, but it was faster than anyone expected.
- April 30, 2022: Drafted 262nd overall.
- August 2022: Kyle Shanahan tells owner Jed York that Purdy might actually be their best quarterback, despite being third on the depth chart.
- October 23, 2022: Gets a "mop-up" cameo against the Chiefs. It wasn't great. He threw an interception.
- December 4, 2022: Jimmy Garoppolo goes down with a foot injury against the Dolphins. Purdy steps in, throws two touchdowns, and never looks back.
By the time he led the team to the NFC Championship game as a rookie, the "when was brock purdy drafted" question became a meme. People couldn't believe 31 teams passed on him over and over again for three straight days.
Assessing the Value Three Years Later
We're now in early 2026. Looking back, the 2022 draft is defined by this one pick. Purdy has already reset the 49ers' record books, passing Jeff Garcia for the most passing yards in a single season (4,280 in 2023).
He’s led the league in passer rating and yards per attempt. He's been to a Super Bowl. He's been a Pro Bowler. All this from a guy who was drafted behind Chris Oladokun. (No disrespect to Chris, but the gap in NFL production is a canyon).
The narrative that he’s just a "system quarterback" has mostly died out, especially after he carried a struggling 2024 roster through a wave of injuries. When you watch him play, you see the anticipation. He's throwing the ball to a spot before the receiver even makes his break. That’s not a system; that’s elite vision.
Actionable Takeaways from the Purdy Draft Story
If you're a scout, a fan, or just someone looking for a lesson in how the NFL works, here is what the Brock Purdy draft situation teaches us:
Experience Matters More Than You Think
Purdy had 47 starts at Iowa State. In a world obsessed with "upside" and "raw traits," there is no substitute for having seen every defensive look possible. He was "pro-ready" because he had played more high-level football than almost anyone else in his class.
The "Standard" QB Prototype is Changing
The NFL used to want 6'5" giants with cannons. Now, because of how fast defensive ends like Nick Bosa and Micah Parsons are, the league needs guys who can get the ball out in 2.2 seconds. Accuracy and processing are the new "elite" traits.
Draft Slot is Just a Starting Line
Whether you’re pick 1 or pick 262, once you're in the building, the film is the only thing that matters. Purdy didn't care about the Mr. Irrelevant tag. He just made his few reps in training camp count until the coaches couldn't ignore him anymore.
If you're tracking his career today, keep an eye on his recovery from minor lingering issues like the turf toe he dealt with earlier this season. Even with the big contract and the fame, he’s still playing with the same "scrappy runner" energy that he had at Iowa State.
Go back and watch the 2022 draft highlights if you can find them. Watching the 49ers' war room when they made the call is a trip. They had no idea they were drafting a franchise savior; they just thought they were getting a solid backup. Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you don't even realize are "the one" until the ball is in the air.
For those looking to dive deeper into the stats, you can check his year-over-year progression on Pro Football Reference, which shows a completion percentage that has consistently stayed above the 65% mark since his debut.
Next Steps to Track Purdy’s Career:
- Check the current NFL injury report to see his status for the upcoming playoff round.
- Review the 2022 NFL Draft full list to see which other "late-round gems" are still starters in the league.
- Look up Kyle Shanahan's recent interviews on the "Pat McAfee Show" for more scouting insights on why they pulled the trigger at pick 262.