What NFL scouts missed with Brock Purdy is the kind of mistake that will echo in draft rooms for years. Taken with the 262nd and final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy came into the league with the reputation of a longshot. He was my 10th-ranked quarterback in that class—behind Cole Kelley, Kaleb Eleby, and Carson Strong, all of whom are now out of the league. Most major scouting outlets were even lower. NFL.com gave him a priority free agent grade. Walter Football compared him to Matt Barkley and questioned whether he could escape NFL pass rushers. The consensus was clear: limited tools, backup ceiling, long shot to make a roster.
That assessment was flat-out wrong.
The biggest miss was on his throwing ability. NFL.com described his release as labored and said throwing looked more like a chore than a talent. In reality, Purdy has one of the smoother, more efficient releases in the league—a product of work he did pre-draft with private quarterback coach Will Hewlett. That lazy narrative about his mechanics didn’t hold up. He delivers the ball with consistency, under pressure, and in rhythm. He throws with anticipation and confidence, even in tight spaces.
Purdy has been one of the most productive quarterbacks
Scouts questioned Purdy’s arm strength, claiming he wouldn’t be able to attack every area of the field. NFL.com even said parts of the field would be “off limits.” That take aged like milk. Purdy averages 8.9 yards per attempt, has no problem pushing the ball vertically, and makes every throw Shanahan’s system demands—with timing and precision. He’s not launching 70-yard lasers, but he’s accurate, aggressive, and decisive. In 2023, he threw for 4,280 yards and a 113.0 passer rating, both franchise records. The doubts about him avoiding tight-window throws didn’t hold up either. Even in his rookie year, coaches saw him ripping balls into tight spaces during limited reps. Since entering the league, he leads the NFL in EPA per dropback and adjusted net yards per attempt. His 23-13 record includes two NFC Championship runs and a Super Bowl trip. He’s tossed 64 touchdowns to just 27 picks and owns a 104.9 career passer rating—the highest in NFL history.
His mobility was also knocked. Walter Football claimed he’d struggle to escape the rush. That simply hasn’t been true. Despite playing behind a middle-of-the-pack offensive line, Purdy’s sack numbers are league average. He’s not a dual-threat, but he’s nifty in the pocket—subtle movements, quick resets, eyes always downfield. He buys time without creating chaos or taking unnecessary hits. That kind of pocket presence can’t be overstated, and it was overlooked.
No, Purdy doesn’t have elite traits. He’ll never blow anyone away at a combine or win a pre-draft hype cycle. But he’s got what matters: anticipation, accuracy, poise, and competitive fire. He’s not a system quarterback. He’s a high quality quarterback in a good system. That’s a big difference.
The 262nd pick isn’t supposed to lead a team to a Super Bowl. But Purdy has. And the scouting world missed it—not because the information wasn’t there, but because too many of them couldn’t see past the measurables.