What Is Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL Draft?

Every year, the NFL Draft features Mr. Irrelevant, the last pick of the draft. But what does that mean, and how did the tradition start?

The History of Mr. Irrelevant

The NFL Draft is an annual event where the 32 teams in the National Football League (NFL) select eligible college football players. The draft order is determined based on the previous year’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the champion picking last. Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to the last pick of the NFL Draft.

The first Mr. Irrelevant

In 1976, the NFL Draft included 17 rounds with a total of 444 picks. That year, the last pick in the draft was wrapped up by the then-Baltimore Colts, who selected wide receiver Ken Fantasy from Tuskegee University. Fantasy never played a down in the NFL; he was released by the Colts before even training camp.

With that, Ken Fantasy became Mr. Irrelevant — a title given to the very last player drafted in the NFL Draft each year. Over time, the Mr. Irrelevant Week celebration has become a well-known event for NFL fans and draft enthusiasts alike, as it pays tribute to the ultimate underdog: the last player selected in the draft.

While mostMr. Irrelevants have not goes on to have long and successful NFL careers, there are a few notable exceptions. In 1998, quarterback Peyton Manning was drafted first overall by the Indianapolis Colts; that same year, linebacker Brian Simmons was drafted 253rd overall by the Cincinnati Bengals — making him that year’s Mr.’s Irrelevant. Both players went on to have excellent careers; Manning is widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and Simmons had a productive 11-year career in Cincinnati.

Other notableMr. Irrelevants include former New York Giants wide receiver David Tyree (2003), who made one of the most famous catches in Super Bowl history; and Ryan Succop (2009), who is currentlythe Kansas City Chiefs’ all-time leading scorer.

The tradition continues

The Mr. Irrelevant Award was created in 1976 by then-NFL player Paul Salata. The first recipient of the award was wide receiver Kevin Casey out of Notre Dame, who was drafted 487th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.

The tradition continued in following years, with the award going to a different late-round pick each year. In recent years, the Mr. Irrelevant Award has taken on new meaning and has become more than just a fun way to recognize the last pick in the NFL Draft.

Past winners of the Mr. Irrelevant Award have used their platform to raise awareness for various charities and causes close to their hearts. For example, 2016 winner Coleman Shelton used his time in the spotlight to bring attention to organ donation and his own personal story of transplant surgery.

Today, the Mr. Irrelevant Award is given out annually at a banquet held in Newport Beach, California – known as Irrelevant Week – where the honoree is celebrated with a series of events and activities leading up to the big day.

The Importance of Being Mr. Irrelevant

Though it may seem like a joke, or unimportant, to be Mr. Irrelevant in the NFL draft is actually a pretty big deal. While the title seems to make light of the situation, the last pick of the NFL draft is a player who will have to work harder than anyone else to make the team. Mr. Irrelevant is often given the task of being a water boy or ball boy, and is generally looked down upon by the other players.

Mr. Irrelevant receives a lot of attention

Each year, the NFL Draft comes and goes. And each year, there is one player who is drafted last. That player is given the title of “Mr. Irrelevant.”

But what exactly is Mr. Irrelevant?

In short, Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to the last pick in the NFL Draft. The player who is drafted last is often given this nickname as a way to make light of their draft position.

Interestingly, though, the player who is drafted last often receives a lot of attention. In fact, Mr. Irrelevant has become somewhat of a celebrity in recent years, as fans and media members alike flock to see who will be given this dubious honor.

So while being Mr. Irrelevant may not sound like a good thing, it seems that there are some benefits to being the last pick in the NFL Draft.

Being Mr. Irrelevant is an honor

Every year, after the NFL draft is complete, there is one player who is given the title of Mr. Irrelevant. This is the name given to the last player selected in the draft. While it may seem like a negative title, it is actually seen as an honor. The player who is given this title is honored with a number of different events and celebrations.

The Mr. Irrelevant Week is a tradition that started back in 1976. This week-long event takes place in Newport Beach, California and honors the last pick of the NFL draft. The week includes a number of different events, including a banquet, golf tournament, and beach party.

In recent years, the NFL has tried to downplay the Mr. Irrelevant title. However, for many players, it is still an honor to be drafted at all—regardless of where they are selected.

The Future of Mr. Irrelevant

Mr. Irrelevant is the term given to the last pick in the NFL draft. The player who is drafted last is typically given this title. In recent years, however, the term has taken on a more positive connotation. The player who is drafted last is often seen as a symbol of hope for their team’s future.

The NFL is changing

The National Football League is a dynamic and ever-changing machine. One of the most noticeable ways it has changed in recent years is the role of Mr. Irrelevant.

For those who don’t know, Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to the last pick in the NFL Draft. This player is typically seen as a long shot to make an NFL roster, let alone have any kind of impact on the field.

However, the NFL’s decreasing emphasis on the traditional running back position has led to a decrease in value for running backs in general, and this has had a trickle-down effect on Mr. Irrelevant. In recent years, Mr. Irrelevant has often been a wide receiver or even a quarterback, which are both much more valuable positions than running back these days.

This change has made it much easier for Mr. Irrelevant to actually make an NFL roster and even see some playing time. In fact, there have been several Mr. Irrelevants who have gone on to have successful NFL careers, including Super Bowl champion Anquan Boldin and Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen.

So while Mr. Irrelevant may always be the butt of jokes come draft time, the truth is that he isn’t nearly as irrelevant as he used to be. Who knows? Maybe one day he’ll even be considered one of the best players in the league.

Mr. Irrelevant’s future is uncertain

This year, the final pick of the NFL draft will be given the title of “Mr. Irrelevant.” The player chosen with this pick is typically considered to be a long shot to make it in the NFL, and their future is often uncertain.

However, there have been some success stories of players who were drafted in Mr. Irrelevant position and went on to have successful NFL careers. Tom Brady, for example, was drafted 199th overall in the 2000 NFL draft and is now considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

While it is certainly possible for a Mr. Irrelevant draft pick to go on to have a successful career in the NFL, the reality is that most of these players will never make it in the league. For every Tom Brady, there are hundreds of Mr. Irrelevants who never even make it onto an NFL roster.

So what does the future hold for this year’s Mr. Irrelevant? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: their path to success will be a long and difficult one.