When looking at incoming rookie quarterbacks, we tend to focus on the early picks -- the first-rounders, and occasionally the seconds or thirds. If a player has much hope of being a quality starter, NFL teams wouldn't let them fall any further, the theory goes. But then a Brock Purdy (pictured) comes along.

Purdy, famously, was Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 Draft, and nearly led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. He got hurt early on in the NFC Championship Game, or who knows. It's a reminder that we can't just ignore the later-round quarterback picks. There might not be the next Dak Prescott, but there might be the next Purdy.

That being said, it's still pretty rare. In the last 10 years, I see only one other quarterback selected from the fourth round on who made much of an impact in fantasy leagues -- Gardner Minshew. Between his passing and his running, the sixth-rounder averaged over 20 fantasy points per game in each of his first two seasons in Jacksonville. He might well be starting for the Colts this year.

The other semi-notable late-rounder in the last decade is Mike White. Selected by the Jets in the fifth round, he had some strong games for New York the last couple of years. In the offseason he signed with the Dolphins and will probably be backing up Tua Tagovailoa, whose concussion history is well known. White might get some run working with two of the game's better wideouts at some point this year.

Table shows all quarterbacks selected from the fourth round on in the last decade, sorted by fantasy points per game (minimum 3 starts in a given year). The 2022 representatives are in bold.

LATE-ROUND QBS, FANTASY POINTS PER GAME (2013-2022)
RdYearPlayerGSPassTDIntRunTDFPG
42020Dak Prescott, Dall.518569493333.6
42019Dak Prescott, Dall.1649023011277325.8
42021Dak Prescott, Dall.1644493710146124.8
62019Jeff Driskel, Det.368544151124.3
62020Gardner Minshew, Jac.82259165153122.4
42018Dak Prescott, Dall.163885228305622.0
42022Dak Prescott, Dall.1228602315182121.6
42016Dak Prescott, Dall.163667234282621.2
62019Gardner Minshew, Jac.123271216344020.6
42017Dak Prescott, Dall.1633242213357620.4
52022Mike White, NYJ41192349119.6
72021Trevor Siemian, N.O.4115411320118.3
72016Trevor Siemian, Den.143401181057017.8
52021Mike White, NYJ395358-1017.4
42016Matt Barkley, Chi.616118142017.1
72017Trevor Siemian, Den.1022851214127116.5
52017Brett Hundley, G.B.91836912270215.5
62020Jake Luton, Jac.36242613115.5
62014Zach Mettenberger, Ten.61412874014.7
72022Brock Purdy, S.F.5137413413114.2
62019Brandon Allen, Den.35153239013.9
62020Brandon Allen, Cin.59255427013.8
42019Ryan Finley, Cin.34742277013.1
62022Sam Ehlinger, Ind.35733387012.3
42017Tom Savage, Hou.71412562011.4
62018Jeff Driskel, Cin.5100362130211.2
52015AJ McCarron, Cin.38546231010.0
62015Zach Mettenberger, Ten.493547819.9
42016Bryce Petty, NYJ4809371909.4
42017Bryce Petty, NYJ3544135509.2

Two guys who didn't make the list from last year (not enough starts) might be factors this year. Patriots fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe and Commanders fifth-rounder Sam Howell. Zappe could conceivably move past Mac Jones at some point, while Howell might be a Week 1 starter. Three late-round success stories from the same draft would be impressive.

From the 2023 NFL Draft, I see a couple of guys who might need to be mentioned. The Rams drafted Stetson Bennett in the fourth round. Bennett is Bryce Young sized, but the Rams used a relatively high pick on him and Matthew Stafford's health is suspect at this point. Bennett put up huge numbers for National Champion Georgia, finishing 4th in the Heisman voting. If there's a Purdy in this draft, let's go with Bennett.

The Chargers selected Max Duggan in the seventh round. Safe to say he'll never be more than a backup on Justin Herbert's team. But maybe he shows enough in the preseason that the Chargers are able to flip him for a better draft pick. Duggan was the Heisman runnerup last year and had 41 total touchdowns for Texas Christian (32 pass, 9 run).

--Andy Richardson