What happened to the other quarterbacks in Brock Purdy’s draft class?
Graduation season is in full swing and the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback has moved up a notch in his NFL career, reportedly inking a five-year, $265 million contract extension to remain in the Bay Area. The pros have been kind to Purdy, who defied the odds and made it after being selected as ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Luckily for the other quarterbacks in that class, no one has paid much attention to their failures at the next level thanks to Purdy’s success.
However, with the Niners’ star now locked in for the future, it’s time to take a trip down memory lane and, in classic yearbook fashion, take a look at where they are now.
This could’ve been considered one of the worst quarterback draft classes in NFL history without Purdy. Here’s a look at his eight classmates that graduated from college football with him:
Brock Purdy draft class
Purdy is the headliner despite being the last pick in the 2022 draft. None of the other eight quarterbacks are starters with their respective teams.
Kenny Pickett, First round, Pick 20
- Current team: Cleveland Browns
Picket was the only first-round pick in this group after being taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was later dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles after an unsuccessful two-year run as a starter, backing up Jalen Hurts last season. Pickett was then traded to the Cleveland Browns after the Eagles won the Super Bowl, where he is now competing for a job in a crowded quarterback room.
Desmond Ridder, Third round, Pick 74
- Current team: Las Vegas Raiders
Ridder has bounced around since he was taken in the third round. He had a one-year cameo as a starter for the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, but didn’t do enough to maintain his hold on the job. The Falcons responded by signing Kirk Cousins and drafting Michael Penix Jr., eventually dealing Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals. After being released by Arizona, he inked a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he serves as the backup.
Malik Willis, Third round, Pick 86
- Current team: Green Bay Packers
Willis, a potential first-round pick, slid all the way to the Tennessee Titans in the third round. The former Liberty quarterback managed just three starts in the Music City before he was traded to the Green Bay Packers before the 2024 season. Willis found his footing as the backup to Jordan Love, going 2-0 in his limited action last season.
Matt Corral, Third round, Pick 94
- Current team: Birmingham Stallions (UFL)
Corral never played in an NFL game after being cut by the Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Corral instead ended up playing for the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL.
Bailey Zappe, Fourth round, Pick 137
- Current team: Kansas City Chiefs
Zappe has mostly played the role of backup during his NFL career after the Patriots took him in the fourth round. He experienced a brief moment of success in the pros when he filled in for an injured Mac Jones. Patriots fans began clamoring for Zappe to take over the starting job at the time, but that eventually fizzled out and he’s been out of the spotlight ever since. Zappe was active for one game with the Browns in 2024, but returned to the Chiefs in free agency following his stint on their practice squad to begin last season.
Sam Howell, Fifth round, Pick 144
- Current team: Minnesota Vikings
Howell has been one of the few players on this list with any success in the pros. Granted, that hasn’t translated to wins, but he has started 18 games in three seasons, a hard number to beat in this group. Only Pickett and Purdy have more through three seasons. Howell is now back in a backup role with the Minnesota Vikings.
Chris Oladokun, Seventh round, Pick 241
- Current team: Kansas City Chiefs
Oladokun has only been active for one game in his career. The 27-year-old has been primarily on the Chiefs’ practice squad since entering the league.
Skylar Thompson, Seventh round, Pick 247
- Current team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Thompson rounds out the group of Purdy’s classmates drafted before the 49ers starter. The former Miami Dolphin is the only quarterback in this class, outside of Purdy, to start a playoff game. He nearly out-dueled Josh Allen and the Bills in the 2022 postseason, dropping the game 34-31. Regardless, Thompson has started just three regular season games in his career to this point and is now a member of the Steelers.
