The 2023 NFL draft resulted in those around the NFL coining the term the Brock Purdy Effect. Although many already know, Brock Purdy was taken as Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft. With how well he did in the season despite being taken last, he may have changed the league. Here is a look into what the Brock Purdy Effect is and if it is real.
The Brock Purdy Effect
In 2022, the San Francisco 49ers selected Brock Purdy as Mr. Irrelevant. Purdy came from Iowa State and was not discussed as one of the top prospects. After quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down with an injury, Purdy was forced to start. Despite being the third string, Purdy went on to win every game until facing an injury in the NFC Championship game.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) – Jed Jacobsohn/AP Photo
Purdy is now the expected starter in 2023 for the 49ers. It was never planned for Purdy to see the field, and he was not ranked high, yet he became a star in 2022. This led many to believe that there are quarterbacks who can succeed in the league despite not being one of the first-round picks.
The Brock Purdy Effect began to be discussed in this draft, specifically on day three. There were 14 quarterbacks that were drafted in this year’s NFL draft, and many of them were expected to go undrafted. There were about five quarterbacks predicted to go, and usually, there are about two or three others that do get picked up late. Fourteen quarterbacks being drafted was a surprise.
Quarterbacks Drafted
The four quarterbacks expected to go in this draft were Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, and Hendon Hooker. Here is a brief look at the other quarterbacks that were drafted in order:
Former Alabama QB Bryce Young (9) – Alika Jenner/Getty Images
Fourth Round
Pick 127: New Orleans Saints select Jake Haener from Fresno State
Pick 128: Los Angeles Rams select Stenson Bennett from Georgia
Pick 135: Las Vegas Raiders select Aidan O’Connell from Purdue
Fifth Round
Pick 139: Arizona Cardinals select Clayton Tune from Houston
Pick 140: Cleveland Browns select Dorian Thompson-Robinson from UCLA
Pick 149: Greenbay Packers select Sean Clifford from Penn State
Pick 164: Minnesota Vikings select Jaren Hall from BYU
Sixth Round
Pick 188: Philadelphia Eagles select Tanner McKee from Stanford
Seventh Round
Pick 139: Los Angeles Chargers select Max Duggan from TCU
Former Penn State QB Sean Clifford (14) – Annie Kubiak/Onward State
It is apparent, based on the number of quarterbacks that were drafted, especially in the fifth round, the Brock Purdy Effect is a real thing.
While, of course, many of these players will not see the field in 2023, a considerable number of them were also predicted to go as an undrafted free agents. In the fifth round, having four quarterbacks picked was something that was unexpected. Some of the players picked, such as Max Duggan and Stenson Bennett, were at least slightly debated to be drafted, but not this many quarterbacks were predicted.
When thinking about it, there is a chance that Jordan Love goes down with an injury for the Greenbay Packers or does not work out. Taking a quarterback is a safe move, but it was still a slight surprise. Most teams would not take a risk drafting a backup quarterback in the fifth round, but the Packers did.
The league also saw how the 49ers’ quarterback position was hit with injuries. The team went through four by the end of the season, two going down in the NFC Championship game. Ironically, the San Francisco 49ers did not take a quarterback during the 2023 NFL draft. The Brock Purdy Effect post likely will not continue into the 2024 NFL draft unless one of those fifth or later picks makes a big surprise.
It will be interesting to watch if any of the quarterbacks that were drafted, which are not expected to start, get any NFL action this year thanks to the Brock Purdy Effect.
