The rise to stardom for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is famously uplifting and inspiring.
Purdy was selected with the very last pick, 262nd overall in the 7th round, in the 2022 NFL Draft. But by the end of the 2022 season, Purdy had won the 49ers’ starting job. After taking San Francisco to the NFC Championship Game that year, he brought them all the way to the Super Bowl in 2023 as the full-time starter.
Purdy is already the most famous “Mr. Irrelevant” in NFL Draft history, and given how little the 49ers initially invested in him, he has paid off his selection tremendously. He could retire today and the pick would still be considered a massive success for San Francisco.
But one NFL analyst thinks Purdy was the savviest pick in the whole 2022 draft.
In an article titled “The Biggest Gems from Each of the Last 5 NFL Draft Classes,” NFL insider Matt Holder of Bleacher Report named Purdy as the best pick from the fourth round or later in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Receiving that distinction is significant for Purdy, as he was picked over star players like Dallas Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson, Seattle Seahawks CB Riq Woolen, and Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams.
Purdy Is The Best Overall QB in 2022 Class
Purdy’s selection as the best late round pick in 2022 is only the latest indication of how much of a steal he really was for the 49ers in the seventh round.
He is also clearly the best quarterback selected in the entire 2022 draft.
Purdy is the only quarterback picked in 2022 that is still with his original team, and the only signal caller chosen in 2022 that is in line for a starting job anywhere. Cleveland Browns QB Kenny Pickett continues to compete for the Cleveland starting job but faces stiff competition from Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.
Purdy made a Pro Bowl with the 49ers in 2023 and was signed to a massive five-year $265 million contract extension this past offseason, both honors that his 2022 NFL draft quarterback counterparts seem unlikely to claim anytime soon.
If Purdy goes on to win Super Bowls or further personal accolades with the 49ers, he could be considered one of the greatest draft steals of all time.
Brock Purdy for MVP in 2025?
Back on June 12, 2025, ESPN analyst Chris Broussard called Brock Purdy one of his “dark horse” MVP candidates for the 2025 season on the “First Things First” show.
Broussard thinks Purdy could thrive with an easy schedule and with RB Christian McCaffrey back healthy.
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Broussard also picked Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield as top “dark horse” candidates.
Purdy has previously been an MVP contender; he finished fourth in MVP voting in 2023 after leading the 49ers to a 12-4 record that season. Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ultimately won the award.
If the 49ers are exceedingly good, Purdy’s biggest obstacle to winning the award might be his own teammate. McCaffrey actually finished ahead of Purdy in MVP voting in ‘23 with the third most votes.
Purdy would need to become the featured player on offense, elevating his receivers such as Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall and Jordan Watkins to new heights with excellent play.
But knowing Purdy, he’s almost sure to let McCaffrey take the spotlight again if it means helping the 49ers win a Super Bowl.
But what do you think, 49ers fans? Could Brock Purdy win an MVP sometime in the future?
