SANTA CLARA – Quarterback Brock Purdy and offensive lineman Nick Zakelj met shortly after the 49ers selected both players on the third day of the 2022 NFL Draft.
They were roommates during their first two seasons in the NFL, having originally become friends through a mutual friend.
“There’s a small-world aspect to the whole thing,” Zakelj told NBC Sports Bay Area on Thursday.
One of Purdy’s roommates during his time at Iowa State was linebacker Mike Rose.
Zakelj and Rose have known each other for almost 20 years. They played together in youth leagues and were teammates at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School in Brecksville, Ohio.
“That’s how we made that connection,” Zakelj said of Purdy. “And the friendship developed from there.”
Zakelj was a sixth-round draft pick out of Fordham, while Purdy was the 262nd and final player selected.
Because of their draft positions, Zakelj’s four-year contract is scheduled to pay him $962,500 per season, compared to Purdy’s projected annual salary of $934,250.
Because of the cost of housing in the Bay Area, convenience and compatibility, Purdy and Zakelj extended their housing arrangements beyond their rookie season.
“People joke about having the starting quarterback as a roommate,” Zakelj said. “Looking at it from the outside, I think it’s funny.
“He’s still a very humble guy. He still has the work ethic that contributed to his success on the field.”
When they have time off from their jobs, Zakelj said he and Purdy are similar to many other recent college graduates who live under the same roof.
“We started grilling a little more,” Zakelj said. “We’re switching off. He has the upper hand over me at the moment. But when we have free time from football, we just hang out and watch film here and there.”
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