Brock Purdy, Dolphins backup earn stunning distinction regarding recent QB draft class

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Miami Dolphins signal-caller Skylar Thompson now share one shocking similarity, other than both being members of the 2022 NFL Draft class.

Purdy has stunningly become the most accomplished member of the quarterbacks group, taking over as San Francisco's starter midway through his rookie season, leading the team to an NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl berth and garnering Pro Bowl honors last season. The final pick of the 2022 draft led the NFL in passer rating (113.0) and a host of other categories in 2023 on his way to finishing fourth in the MVP voting and earning the nickname " Mr. Relevant ."

Thompson was selected 15 spots before Purdy and played seven games as a rookie in South Beach, but he didn't take any snaps last season behind starter Tua Tagovailoa and backup Mike White. With White being cut on Monday , Thompson now has the QB2 gig to himself.

Being the first signal-caller taken in the 2022 draft, Kenny Pickett has arguably been the biggest disappointment of the nine players. The 26-year-old went 7-5 in each of his two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers but threw for just 4,474 yards with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, good for a 78.8 passer rating across 25 games (24 starts). Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in March and is expected to be Jalen Hurts' backup.

It's been a busy offseason for the five quarterbacks selected after Pickett, and an especially hectic week for the trio of third-rounders and one fourth-rounder from two years ago.

Desmond Ridder took over as the Atlanta Falcons starter late in the 2022 campaign and played 15 games in 2023. He was benched multiple times and was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in March before being released on Tuesday.

With Ryan Tannehill entering his then-age-34 season, the Tennessee Titans chose Malik Willis in the third round in 2022. He appeared in 11 contests in two seasons with the Titans before being traded to the Green Bay Packers on Monday , where he's expected to back up Jordan Love.

Despite being a third-round pick, Matt Corral has yet to play in an NFL contest. The Mississippi product suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury during a Carolina Panthers preseason game ahead of the 2022 campaign and was waived by the team last August. Corral spent time on the New England Patriots practice squad but saw no playing time behind Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings earlier this month and waived on Monday.

Zappe played 14 games over the 2022 and 2023 seasons in New England, occasionally filling in for Jones when he was injured or struggling. Now with Jones joining the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Patriots are debuting a new quarterbacks room. Though projected starter Jacoby Brissett is a former New England signal-caller, he's joined by rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton III on the depth chart. Zappe was waived on Tuesday.

Sam Howell debuted in Week 18 of the 2022 season for the Washington Commanders and started all 17 contests in 2023. The 23-year-old struggled behind a weak offensive line and with limited pass-catching options and led the league with 21 interceptions. Howell was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in March and is battling PJ Walker for the understudy post to Geno Smith.

Chris Oladokun was the lone player on the list before this week not only to be without an employer but have never played in an NFL game. He was released by the Steelers four months after being drafted with Pickett. While he's currently a free agent, he found a home on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad each of the last two seasons during their championship runs.