2024's 'Mr. Irrelevant' Aims to Emulate Success of Three Notable Predecessors

Another NFL draft has come and gone. Of all the young stars hoping to hear their name called, only one gets to be known as 'Mr. Irrelevant' each year, otherwise known as the final NFL draft pick of the event.

Alabama Crimson Tide safety Jaylen Key is Mr. Irrelevant for the 2024 draft, heading to the New York Jets. The 24-year-old safety is from Quincy, FL, and he graduated high school from Amos P. Godby High School. Key transferred to Tuscaloosa after spending 4 years at UAB.

Key spent Nick Saban’s final year with him in Tuscaloosa. He raked in 60 tackles and 1 interception as a 6th year senior. During his 6 years in college, Key totaled 134 tackles and 4 interceptions.

With Key now taking on the honorable title, here's a look three former Mr. Irrelevants whose success he hopes to emulate.

Quarterback Brock Purdy, 2022

Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy found himself thrown into the action pretty quickly at the start of his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. After the injuries of the 49ers’ first and second-string quarterbacks, Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, Purdy became one of only five rookie QBs to beat GOAT Tom Brady. And, he did it in his first NFL game.

Also, it’s a good comparison to note that Purdy threw 13 touchdowns in his rookie season while 15-year veteran Matt Ryan threw 14 touchdowns in the same year.

Purdy will be the starting quarterback for the 2024 season with Sam Darnold as his backup.

Linebacker Tae Crowder, 2020

University of Georgia linebacker Tae Crowder was not given much of a second thought when the New York Giants took him as the final 2020 NFL draft pick. Crowder started 6 games in his rookie season, but his explosion came during his second year. Leading the Giants in tackles (130) and starting all 17 games in 2021, Crowder was a breakout asset.

Crowder signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023 and is now signed with the Tennessee Titans. If the young star can keep his footing and improve his technique, it’s only up from here.

Kicker Ryan Succop, 2009

We had to throw special teams in the mix. University of South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop could be the most valuable Mr. Irrelevant since the term induction in 1976. The Kansas City Chiefs scooped up Succop in the 2009 NFL draft. Since then, he has 14 years under his belt in the NFL. Succop won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, nailing a 52-yard field goal in the process.

Succop has an 83% field goal conversion rate, giving him the 35th-best rate in NFL history.