Mr Irrelevant history in NFL draft Every final pick since 1976

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The nickname "Mr. Irrelevant" -- given to the player selected as the last pick in the NFL draft -- has been used for decades, but San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy rekindled interest in the topic last season. On Saturday, Alabama safety Jaylen Key became the latest to wear the tag when the New York Jets selected him with the 257th and final pick of the 2024 NFL draft. 

Johnson will look to scale the same heights as Purdy, who took over the starting job in Week 14 after then-starter Jimmy Garoppolo went out with a foot injury and eventually lifted the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. He became the only Mr. Irrelevant QB in the common draft era (since 1967) to start and win a playoff game. In his five regular-season and three playoff starts, Purdy ranked third in QBR (68.9), fifth in completion percentage (67.4%) and tied for third in passing touchdowns (14) before suffering an elbow injury. He had surgery on March 10.

Other notable Mr. Irrelevants include kicker Ryan Succop (2009) -- a Super Bowl LV winner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers whose 82.9% field goal percentage ranks 37th in NFL history, according to Pro Football Reference -- and linebacker Tae Crowder (2020), who had 232 total tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in three seasons for the New York Giants before being signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The nickname and Mr. Irrelevant Week -- a celebration and charity event -- were created by former player Paul Salata to celebrate the underdog. There have been many Mr. Irrelevants since Kelvin Kirk became the first in 1976. Here's the complete list:

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2020s | 2010s | 2000s 1990s | 1980s | 1970s

2024

Jaylen Key, S, New York Jets Pick No. 257 College: Alabama

2023

Desjuan Johnson, DE, Los Angeles Rams Pick No. 259 College: Toledo

2022

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers Pick: No. 262 College: Iowa State

2021

Grant Stuard, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: No. 259 College: Houston

2020

Tae Crowder, LB, New York Giants Pick: No. 255 College: Georgia

2019

Caleb Wilson, TE, Arizona Cardinals Pick: No. 254 College: UCLA

2018

Trey Quinn, WR, Washington Pick: No. 256 College: SMU

2017

Chad Kelly, QB, Denver Broncos Pick: No. 253 College: Ole Miss

2016

Kalan Reed, CB, Tennessee Titans Pick: No. 253 College: Southern Miss

2015

Gerald Christian, TE, Arizona Cardinals Pick: No. 256 College: Louisville

2014

Lonnie Ballentine, S, Houston Texans Pick: No. 256 College: Memphis

2013

Justice Cunningham, TE, Indianapolis Colts Pick: No. 254 College: South Carolina

2012

Chandler Harnish, QB, Indianapolis Colts Pick: No. 253 College: Northern Illinois

2011

Cheta Ozougwu, DE, Houston Texans Pick: No. 254 College: Rice

2010

Tim Toone, WR, Detroit Lions Pick: No. 255 College: Weber State

2009

Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City Chiefs Pick: No. 256 College: South Carolina

2008

David Vobora, OLB, St. Louis Rams Pick: No. 252 College: Idaho

2007

Ramzee Robinson, CB, Detroit Lions Pick: No. 255 College: Alabama

2006

Kevin McMahan, WR, Oakland Raiders Pick: No. 255 College: Maine

2005

Andy Stokes, TE, New England Patriots Pick: No. 255 College: William Penn

2004

Andre Sommersell, LB, Oakland Raiders Pick: No. 255 College: Colorado State

2003

Ryan Hoag, WR, Oakland Raiders Pick: No. 262 College: Gustavus Adolphus

2002

Ahmad Miller, DT, Houston Texans Pick: No. 261 College: UNLV

2001

Tevita Ofahengaue, TE, Arizona Cardinals Pick: No. 246 College: BYU

2000

Michael Green, DB, Chicago Bears Pick: No. 254 College: Northwestern State

1999

Jim Finn, FB, Chicago Bears Pick: No. 253 College: Pennsylvania

1998

Cam Quayle, TE, Baltimore Ravens Pick: No. 241 College: Weber State

1997

Ronnie McAda, QB, Green Bay Packers Pick: No. 240 College: Army

1996

Sam Manuel, LB, San Francisco 49ers Pick: No. 254 College: New Mexico State

1995

Michael Reed, DB, Carolina Panthers Pick: No. 249 College: Boston College

1994

Marty Moore, LB, New England Patriots Pick: No. 222 College: Kentucky

1993

Daron Alcorn, K, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pick: No. 224 College: Akron

1992

Matt Elliott, C, Washington Pick: No. 336 College: Michigan

1991

Larry Wanke, QB, New York Giants Pick: No. 334 College: John Carroll

1990

Demetrius Davis, TE, Los Angeles Raiders Pick: No. 331 College: Nevada

1989

Everett Ross, WR, Minnesota Vikings Pick: No. 335 College: Ohio State

1988

Jeff Beathard, WR, Los Angeles Rams Pick: No. 333 College: Southern Oregon

1987

Norman Jefferson, DB, Green Bay Packers Pick: No. 335 College: LSU

1986

Mike Travis, DB, San Diego Chargers Pick: No. 333 College: Georgia Tech

1985

Donald Chumley, DT, San Francisco 49ers Pick: No. 336 College: Georgia

1984

Randy Essington, QB, Los Angeles Raiders Pick: No. 336 College: Colorado

1983

John Tuggle, RB, New York Giants Pick: No. 335 College: California

1982

Tim Washington, DB, San Francisco 49ers Pick: No. 334 College: Fresno State

1981

Phil Nelson, TE, Oakland Raiders Pick: No. 332 College: Delaware

1980

Tyrone McGriff, G, Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: No. 333 College: Florida A&M

1979

Mike Almond, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: No. 330 College: Northwestern State

1978

Lee Washburn, G, Dallas Cowboys Pick: No. 334 College: Montana State

1977

Jim Kelleher, RB, Minnesota Vikings Pick: No. 335 College: Colorado

1976

Kelvin Kirk, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: No. 487 College: Dayton