We're officially less than one month out from one of the most exciting events of the league year, the 2025 NFL Draft. The San Francisco 49ers are set to enter the three-day event with 11 total picks, including four selections within the top 100.
For a prospect, hearing their named called during draft weekend is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. While much of the spotlight often goes to those selected early, there are many examples across the league of late-round draft picks and undrafted free agents becoming difference makers for the organizations they join.
In San Francisco, you need to look no further than the 49ers QB1, Brock Purdy, to see the impact of a player taken on Day 3 of the draft. Purdy was the final selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, and, by Week 13 of his rookie season, he was tasked with leading the 49ers offense after injuries to both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. In his three years in the league, he's taken San Francisco to two NFC Championship Games and earned a Super Bowl LVIII berth.
Last week, Purdy appeared on the "Built 4 More" podcast and discussed his initial reaction to being drafted by the red and gold. He described his thought process immediately after getting the call from president of football operations/general manager John Lynch and company.
"Man, the first thing was, 'I got an opportunity,'" Purdy said. "That was first and foremost. I was praying for an opportunity. I didn't really care about how I got there, how I got to a team, how the draft went down. It was, 'What am I going to do when I get the opportunity?' So, when they called, I was like 'Man, I got an opportunity now. Let's roll!'"
Purdy spent his draft weekend back home in Arizona with his family.
"Obviously, my family was jumping on me and celebrating," Purdy said on the "Built 4 More" podcast. "Seeing the name up on the TV - As a kid and football player, you dream of - Man, one day, if I could have my name said up there and scroll across the TV, you just got drafted to a team, that's so cool.
"So, there was that, and I appreciated that. More than anything, deep down inside of me was, 'Hey, this is the next phase and journey of my life where the Lord has me. I'm going to go all in. I'm just grateful that I get an opportunity, now let's make the most of it.'"
In addition to leading the team to deep playoff runs in 2022 and 2023, Purdy has reached big personal miles as well. During his first full season as a starter, Purdy set the 49ers single season franchise record for passing yards (4,280) and passer rating (113.0). He also became the first 49ers quarterback in 23 years to throw for 4,000-or-more yards in season and the first San Francisco signal caller to earn Pro Bowl honors since Jeff Garcia in 2002.
