Draft Pick Kobee Minor of Memphis Football Designated as 2025's 'Mr. Irrelevant'
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Whoa, buddy! Kobee Minor, a cornerback from Memphis, became this year's "Mr. Irrelevant" when the New England Patriots picked him in the final slot of the NFL Draft. That's right, he's the last pick of the round, but hey, no biggie! It's an honor, not a joke.
Kobee's college journey was unconventional, bouncing around between Texas Tech, Indiana, and Memphis before landing the Mr. Irrelevant crown. And guess what? His stats speak for themselves—in 2024, he racked up an impressive 38 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six passes defended, two sacks, and even forced two fumbles!
"I fucking love it," Kobee said about his draft selection, keeping it real with 98.5 The Sports Hub. "It's just more fuel to my fire."
You might think that the last pick in the draft won't make waves in the NFL, but consider Brock Purdy. This guy was Mr. Irrelevant in 2022, went on to lead the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2024, and almost won it all in overtime. Proves you can't judge a book by its cover, huh?
Last season, Alabama safety Jaylen Key was also bestowed the Mr. Irrelevant title, further justifying the claim that even the last pick can shine.
The award was first created by Paul Salata, a former Southern California wide receiver. Back then, the draft had a whopping 30 rounds! Thankfully, it's shortened since then, now resting at seven rounds (thank God, am I right?).
Now, let's talk about noteworthy Mr. Irrelevant players throughout history:
- Brock Purdy, the Mr. Irrelevant QB who nearly stole the Super Bowl LVIII trophy in 2024. Impressive, right?
- Kobee Minor and Jaylen Key don't have Brock's accolades yet, but they've faced challenges akin to other Mr. Irrelevant picks—limited roles, short tenures, and contributions mostly on special teams or practice squads. However, some have managed to carve out stronger positions, like recent Mr. Irrelevants, Stuard and Crowder, who became key special teams contributors and defensive leaders for their teams[1].
There are more stories, too, like Ryan Succop, a reliable kicker who played for 14 seasons, including a Super Bowl LV victory with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Marty Moore, a linebacker who played in two Super Bowls and won one with the New England Patriots[3].
So yeah, while many Mr. Irrelevant picks struggle to make an impact, there are standout players who defy expectations, like Brock Purdy, Ryan Succop, and Marty Moore. Kobee and Jaylen are on that path, and it'll be interesting to see where they end up[1][2][3].
[1] - Beacon Hill Times - "Mr. Irrelevant: A look at the least-valued draftees who made an impact" - https://www.beaconhilltimes.com/sports/football/mr-irrelevant-a-look-at-the-least-valued-draftees-who-made-an-impact-6626119
[2] - USA Today - "Here's a look at each year’s NFL sixth-round draft picks" - https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/04/there's-a-look-at-each-years-nfl-sixth-round-draft-picks
[3] - Football Database - "Mr. Irrelevant" - https://www.footballdatabase.com/stories/mr-irrelevant/
Keep your eyes peeled for these guys—they might just surprise us like none other!
- After being the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brock Purdy led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2024, showing that even the last pick can defy expectations.
- Kobee Minor, the 2023 Mr. Irrelevant, played for multiple colleges before becoming the last pick of the draft, but his impressive college stats indicate a promising future.
- Jaylen Key, the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant, is another player who, despite being the last pick, has the potential to carve out a stronger position in the NFL.
- In American football, the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, and Purdy came close to winning it all in 2024.
- Former Southern California wide receiver Paul Salata created the Mr. Irrelevant award, a tradition that has been a part of the NFL Draft since the 1970s.
- salata Football can be unpredictable—from undrafted players like Purdy and Succop to late-round picks like Key and Minor, there are always stories of underdogs making an impact.
- In 2024, Kobee Minor, Brock Purdy, and Jaylen Key will join the ranks of other Mr. Irrelevant players who defied expectations, including Ryan Succop and Marty Moore.
