Ask Brock Purdy: The NFL draft doesn’t start until late Saturday afternoon

Yes, the first round of the NFL draft is Thursday night, yadda, yadda. Fifteen minutes between picks, a very big deal, whatever.

OK, sports fans, answer me this: Who was the first pick in the 2022 draft and who was the last one? I had to look up who was No. 1. I, and NFL fans from coast to coast, knew Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy was the last pick.

That’s because Purdy threw at least two touchdown passes in each of the San Francisco 49ers’ last six regular-season games last season, all of them wins. Then he threw three in a playoff win over Seattle, and did what it took to help the Niners beat Dallas in an NFC semifinal.

Was there a rookie quarterback more impactful in the NFL than Purdy last season? Was there a rookie who was more impactful than Purdy? Niners tight end George Kittle of Iowa would say no, I’m guessing.

Kittle had 11 touchdown catches in the 2022 regular season. Seven came in the final four games.

The No. 1 pick, by the way, was Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Travon Walker.

So do yourself a favor. Don’t watch the draft Thursday. Or Friday. Catch it near the end of Saturday’s seventh round. If it’s a nice day, don’t watch it at all.