Being the last pick in the NFL draft sounds like a punchline. You sit by the phone for three days. You watch 250 other guys—some you definitely played better than in college—get their names called. By the time the final round hits its closing minutes, most people have already turned off the TV to go grill or mow the lawn.
But then your phone rings. It’s the New England Patriots or the San Francisco 49ers. You aren’t just a draft pick; you’re Mr. Irrelevant.
Honestly, it’s one of the weirdest, most endearing traditions in American sports. Since 1976, the guy taken at the very end of the draft hasn't just slunk off to training camp in silence. Instead, he gets a parade. He gets a trophy of a guy fumbling a football. He gets a week-long vacation in Newport Beach.
Most importantly? Recently, these guys have started winning Super Bowls.
The Birth of the Lowsman Trophy
The whole "Mr. Irrelevant" thing wasn't an NFL invention. It was the brainchild of Paul Salata. He was a former receiver for the Colts and 49ers who basically thought, "Hey, let's celebrate the underdog."
He founded Irrelevant Week in 1976. The first recipient was Kelvin Kirk, a wide receiver out of Dayton. The Steelers took him with the 487th pick (drafts were way longer back then). Kirk didn't just get a jersey; he got a celebration that felt like a localized version of the Oscars.
The centerpiece is the Lowsman Trophy. It’s a hilarious, self-deprecating mirror of the Heisman. While the Heisman shows a stiff-arm in a position of power, the Lowsman shows a player spectacularly fumbling the ball. It’s a reminder that while you're in the league, you’re at the bottom of the totem pole.
Interestingly, teams used to fight to get the last pick just for the publicity. In 1979, the Rams and Steelers kept passing, trying to force the other to pick so they could snag the final slot. It got so ridiculous that Commissioner Pete Rozelle had to step in. Now, we have the "Salata Rule," which basically says you can't just keep passing to be the last pick in the NFL draft.
Kobee Minor and the Class of 2025
Fast forward to the 2025 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots held the final selection at No. 257. They used it on Kobee Minor, a defensive back from Memphis.
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Minor is a perfect example of what this pick has become. He’s not some "pity" selection. He’s a legitimate athlete who played high-level college ball. In 2026, he’s battling for a roster spot on a team that desperately needs secondary depth.
The financial side isn't exactly "irrelevant" either. People think the last pick gets pennies. Wrong. For the 2025 cycle, the last pick in the NFL draft carries a total contract value of roughly $4.3 million over four years.
Sure, the signing bonus (around $100,000 to $150,000 range usually) isn't "retire tomorrow" money, but the base salary is a massive jump from what most 23-year-olds are making. If Minor makes the active roster, he’s cleared for a life-changing paycheck.
When the Last Pick Becomes the First Priority
We have to talk about Brock Purdy.
Before Purdy, the last pick in the NFL draft was a fun trivia question. After Purdy? It became a scouting strategy.
The San Francisco 49ers took Purdy with the 262nd pick in 2022. He was the "third-stringer" who wasn't supposed to see the light of day. Then Trey Lance got hurt. Then Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt. Suddenly, Mr. Irrelevant was starting.
He didn't just "manage" the game. He dismantled defenses. Purdy led the 49ers to the NFC Championship as a rookie and the Super Bowl the following year. He proved that the gap between pick 1 and pick 262 is sometimes just a matter of opportunity and the right system.
But Purdy isn't the only success story. Look at Ryan Succop.
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Succop was the final pick in 2009 by the Kansas City Chiefs. Most kickers drafted that late are gone in a year. Succop played for 14 seasons. He won Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s the first Mr. Irrelevant to ever start and win a Super Bowl.
Then there’s Marty Moore. He was the last pick in 1994 and became a special teams ace for the Patriots. He actually played in Super Bowl XXXI, becoming the first-ever Mr. Irrelevant to reach the big game.
Why Teams Love the 257th Pick
You’d think the 257th pick is a throwaway. It’s actually a strategic tool.
By the time the seventh round is ending, agents are already on the phone with teams, negotiating undrafted free agent (UDFA) deals. If a team really likes a guy, they don't want to enter a bidding war with five other teams once the draft ends.
So, they use that final pick to "lock him in."
It guarantees the player is yours. You don't have to convince him to choose your city over a flight to Vegas or Miami. You own his rights. For a team like the Patriots or the Ravens, who value "culture fits," that last pick is a way to grab a guy who might have been a 5th-round talent but fell because of a weird injury or a "slow" 40-yard dash.
Notable Last Picks Who Made It:
- Tae Crowder (2020): He became a starting linebacker for the Giants. He even had a scoop-and-score touchdown that won a game.
- Jim Finn (1999): A fullback who had a solid career, mostly with the Giants, protecting Eli Manning.
- Mike Green (2000): A safety who played eight seasons and racked up over 400 tackles. That's not irrelevant; that's a career.
The Reality of the Grind
Let’s be real for a second. The odds are still against you.
Being the last pick in the NFL draft means you are at the bottom of the depth chart on Day 1 of minicamp. You get fewer reps. You're the guy playing in the fourth quarter of the third preseason game when everyone else is checking their phones.
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If you mess up a coverage or miss a block, you’re cut. A first-round pick can mess up for three years and still get chances because of their "investment value." A seventh-rounder has the leash of a chihuahua.
However, the "Mr. Irrelevant" tag provides a weird kind of job security. Because of the media attention and the Irrelevant Week festivities, the owner and the GM usually know your name. You aren't just "Rookie #42." You're the guy who went to Disneyland and met the fans in California. That slight bit of name recognition can sometimes buy you an extra week to prove yourself.
How to Follow the Journey
If you're tracking the progress of the most recent last pick, here’s what you should look for during the 2026 offseason:
The 53-Man Roster Cut: This happens in late August. This is the "make or break" moment. If Kobee Minor (or whoever holds the mantle) survives this, they’ve defied the odds.
Special Teams Snap Counts: Most last picks don't start on offense or defense. They make their living on kickoff and punt returns. If you see them on the stat sheet under "Tackles," they’re doing exactly what they need to do to stay employed.
Practice Squad Stashing: If a player is cut but then signed to the practice squad, it means the team still sees potential. Many Mr. Irrelevants spend a year here before "elevating" to the active roster in year two.
The last pick in the NFL draft is no longer a death sentence for a career. Between the parades, the Lowsman Trophy, and the chance to be the next Brock Purdy, it’s actually become the most famous way to enter the league as an underdog.
Keep an eye on those final minutes of the draft in April. The guy being teased with the "Irrelevant" title might just be the one holding the Lombardi Trophy in three years.
Actionable Next Steps:
To truly understand the value of these late-round gems, go to Pro Football Reference and filter by "Draft Year" and "Pick Number." Compare the "Approximate Value" (AV) of the last five Mr. Irrelevant picks against players taken in the 5th round. You'll often find that the "irrelevant" tag comes with a level of grit and production that outlasts many players taken 100 spots earlier. If you're a fantasy football dynasty manager, always keep a roster spot open for the "last man in"—the narrative and the opportunity are often more valuable than a random 6th-round wide receiver.