The San Francisco 49ers’ future looks promising with Brock Purdy as their quarterback, a position that took the team decades to properly fill. The contrast between Purdy, famously known as “Mr. Irrelevant,” and former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith adds an interesting layer to their quarterback history.
Alex Smith was selected first in the 2005 NFL draft with high expectations to become the 49ers’ next star quarterback. However, his career with the team did not unfold as hoped, and Smith has since spoken about the immense challenges he faced during that period.
In a May 16 interview with NBC Sports Bay Area, Smith reflected on his experience: “And all of a sudden to be the No. 1 pick — and as a 20-year-old — those were things I never dealt with. I had one college scholarship offer. I had been flying under the radar my entire life. Now, all of a sudden, [there were] huge expectations put upon me. It was a lot,” he explained. Smith felt pressured to be flawless, a daunting task for any rookie, let alone a quarterback. He described this pressure as a recipe for disaster.
Smith does not attribute his struggles to the 49ers organization but acknowledges that the intense scrutiny in San Francisco was overwhelming. This marked the beginning of his difficulties in the NFL, contrasting sharply with Purdy’s current situation as the team’s promising quarterback.
