A perennial Super Bowl contender since 2019, San Francisco fell upon hard times during a 6-11 2024 campaign. In the aftermath, the 49ers saw plenty of talent move on in the offseason. As perhaps surprisingly pointed out by 49ers chief executive officer Jed York, some of the roster reshuffling was due to making room for Purdy to transform from an all-time bargain to one of the top-paid players in the game.
Purdy’s impending haul has been a conversation of much consternation as his underdog story has been met by critics aplenty, many of the belief that he’s simply a product of Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system. Regardless of opinions, Purdy has produced inarguable success.
Over three years, Purdy, 25, has played in 40 games with 36 starts, earning a 23-13 record, 9,518 yards, 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He sparkled in his first full season as a starter in 2023, earning a Pro Bowl selection when he threw for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the NFL in touchdown percentage (7.0), yards per attempt (9.6) and passer rating (113.0). San Francisco also advanced to the Super Bowl that season, with the big game standing as Purdy’s sixth postseason contest.
That’s far more playoff experience than his now-high-priced contemporaries Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray.
The Niners struck gold when they picked Purdy out of Iowa State with pick No. 262 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy was the final selection of the draft, known as Mr. Irrelevant. He has already emerged as the most successful Mr. Irrelevant ever and, for that matter, the most prosperous quarterback taken in his draft class. The only first-rounder taken in 2022, Kenny Pickett by the Pittsburgh Steelers, is on his third roster. Of the nine QBs drafted that year, Purdy is the sole signal-caller still with the franchise that picked him.