Another NFL Draft is almost in the books, and that means the player given the not-so-coveted title of “Mr. Irrelevant” isn’t too far away.
“Mr. Irrelevant” is the title given to the last pick in the NFL Draft, which started in 1976 and has gained popularity ever since. Now, it’s a big moment. The commissioner holds up a jersey with the pick number and team as he announces the selection, eventually given to “Mr. Irrelevant.”
Here’s a look at all the players who were picked last in the NFL Draft.
NFL Draft History: Every ‘Mr. Irrelevant’
2024: Jaylen Key, S, Alabama – New York Jets
2023: Desjuan Johnson, DE, Toledo – Los Angeles Rams
2022: Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State – San Francisco 49ers
2021: Grant Stuard, LB, Houston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2020: Tae Crowder, LB, Georgia – New York Giants
2019: Caleb Wilson, TE, UCLA – Arizona Cardinals
2018: Trey Quinn, WR, SMU – Washington Redskins
2017: Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss – Denver Broncos
2016: Kalan Reed, CB, Southern Miss – Tennessee Titans
2015: Gerald Christian, TE, Louisville – Arizona Cardinals
2014: Lonnie Ballentine, S, Memphis – Houston Texans
2013: Justice Cunningham, TE, South Carolina – Indianapolis Colts
2012: Chandler Harnish, QB, Northern Illinois – Indianapolis Colts
2011: Cheta Ozougwu, DE, Rice – Houston Texans
2010: Tim Toone, WR, Weber State – Detroit Lions
2009: Ryan Succop, K, South Carolina – Kansas City Chiefs
2008: David Vobora, OLB, Idaho – St. Louis Rams
2007: Ramzee Robinson, CB, Alabama – Detroit Lions
2006: Kevin McMahan, WR, Maine – Oakland Raiders
2005: Andy Stokes, TE, William Penn – New England Patriots
2004: Andre Sommersell, LB, Colorado State – Oakland Raiders
2003: Ryan Hoag, WR, Gustavus Adolphus – Oakland Raiders
2002: Ahmad Miller, DT, UNLV – Houston Texans
2001: Tevita Ofahengaue, TE, BYU – Arizona Cardinals
2000: Michael Green, DB, Northwestern State – Chicago Bears
1999: Jim Finn, FB, Pennsylvania – Chicago Bears
1998: Cam Quayle, TE, Weber State – Baltimore Ravens
1997: Ronnie McAda, QB, Army – Green Bay Packers
1996: Sam Manuel, LB, New Mexico State – San Francisco 49ers
1995: Michael Reed, DB, Boston College – Carolina Panthers
1994: Marty Moore, LB, Kentucky – New England Patriots
1993: Daron Alcorn, K, Akron – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1992: Matt Elliott, C, Michigan – Washington Redskins
1991: Larry Wanke, QB, John Carroll – New York Giants
1990: Demetrius Davis, TE, Nevada – Los Angeles Raiders
1989: Everett Ross, WR, Ohio State – Minnesota Vikings
1988: Jeff Beathard, WR, Southern Oregon – Los Angeles Rams
1987: Norman Jefferson, DB, LSU – Green Bay Packers
1986: Mike Travis, DB, Georgia Tech – San Diego Chargers
1985: Donald Chumley, DT, Georgia – San Francisco 49ers
1984: Randy Essington, QB, Colorado – Los Angeles Raiders
1983: John Tuggle, HB, California – New York Giants
1982: Tim Washington, DB, Fresno State – San Francisco 49ers
1981: Phil Nelson, TE, Delaware – Oakland Raiders
1980: Tyrone McGriff, G, Florida A&M – Pittsburgh Steelers
1979: Mike Almond, WR, Northwestern State – Pittsburgh Steelers
1978: Lee Washburn, G, Montana State – Dallas Cowboys
1977: Jim Kelleher, HB, Colorado – Minnesota Vikings
1976: Kelvin Kirk, WR, Dayton – Pittsburgh Steelers
*Mr. Irrelevant begins in 1976*
1975: Stan Hegener, G, Nebraska – Pittsburgh Steelers
1974: Ken Dickerson, DB, Tuskegee – Miami Dolphins
1973: Charlie Wade, WR, Tennessee State – Miami Dolphins
1972: Alphonso Cain, DT, Bethune-Cookman – Dallas Cowboys
1971: Charles Hill, WR, Sam Houston State – Oakland Raiders
1970: Rayford Jenkins, DB, Alcorn A&M – Kansas City Chiefs
1969: Fred Zirkle, DT, Duke – New York Jets
1968: Jimmy Smith, TE, Jackson State – Cincinnati Bengals
1967: Jimmy Walker, WR, Providence – New Orleans Saints
1966: Tom Carr, T, Morgan State – Baltimore Colts
1965: George Haffner, QB, McNeese State – Baltimore Colts
1964: Dick Niglio, HB, Yale – Chicago Bears
1963: Bobby Brezina, B, Houston – Green Bay Packers
1962: Mike Snodgrass, C, Western Michigan – Green Bay Packers
1961: Jacque MacKinnon, B, Colgate – Philadelphia Eagles
1960: Bill Gorman, T, McMurry – New York Giants
1959: Blair Weese, B, West Virginia Tech – Baltimore Colts
1958: Tommy Bronson, B, Tennessee – Detroit Lions
1957: Don Gest, E, Washington State – New York Giants
1956: Bob Bartholomew, T, Wake Forest – Cleveland Browns
1955: Lamar Leachman, C, Tennessee – Cleveland Browns
1954: Ellis Horton, B, Eureka (IL) – Detroit Lions
1953: Hal Maus, E, Montana – Detroit Lions
1952: John Saban, B, Xavier – Cleveland Browns
1951: Sisto Averno, G, Muhlenberg – Cleveland Browns
1950: Dud Parker, B, Baylor – Philadelphia Eagles
1949: John Schweder, G, Pennsylvania – Philadelphia Eagles
1948: *Bill Fischer, G, Notre Dame – Chicago Cardinals
1947: Don Clayton, B, North Carolina – New York Giants
1946: John West, B, Oklahoma – Los Angeles Rams
1945: Billy Joe Aldridge, B, Oklahoma A&M – Green Bay Packers
1944: Walton Roberts, B, Texas – Boston Yanks
1943: Bo Bogovich, G, Delaware – Washington Redskins
1942: Stu Clarkson, C, Texas A&M-Kingsville – Chicago Bears
1941: Mort Landsberg, B, Cornell – Pittsburgh Steelers
1940: Myron Claxton, T, Whittier – New York Giants
1939: Jack Rhodes, G, Texas – New York Giants
1938: Ferd Dreher, E, Denver – Chicago Bears
1937: Solon Holt, G, TCU – Cleveland Rams
1936: Phil Flanagan, G, Holy Cross – New York Giants
*Bill Fischer was drafted in 1948 but stayed in school for another year. He was eventually drafted again by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1949 draft, this time in the first round.
Most Successful Last Picks
Most players selected last rarely see the field, but there are a few exceptions. Three players have made a Pro Bowl, and three have won a Super Bowl. Only one has done both.
Brock Purdy, Bill Fischer, and Jacque MacKinnon are the three players who made the Pro Bowl after being picked last. Fischer was the first to do it. Purdy is the only one who has also appeared in a Super Bowl. If Purdy had won Super Bowl LVIII, he would have been the first Mr. Irrelevant to win a Super Bowl and make a Pro Bowl.
Purdy is on his way to becoming the best Mr. Irrelevant ever. His upcoming contract extension is expected to be the biggest ever given to the last pick. If he keeps up his pace, it could be a long time before anyone challenges him for that title.
Ryan Succop is probably the top candidate right now. He carved out a 14-year career, appeared in 216 games, and made kicks at a high rate. He converted 470 of 489 extra points and 320 of 386 field goals. He capped his career with a Super Bowl win as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer.
The other two Super Bowl winners, Marty Moore and Jim Finn, weren’t superstars but still made significant contributions. They both appeared in more than 100 games and added a Super Bowl ring to their resumes.
Mr. Irrelevant doesn’t always have the easiest path to success, but some have made their presence felt in the league. It’s almost time for the NFL to crown its next Mr. Irrelevant — and see if he’s ready for the challenge.