NFL Draft: Former Mr. Irrelevants Who Made Themselves Relevant

The 2026 NFL Draft is here. Like previous years, there wasn't much suspense regarding which player is going to be the No. 1 overall pick. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza went to the Las Vegas Raiders with the first pick - something the sports betting odds and prediction markets were forecasting with 95.2% certainly with implied probability.

Sportsbooks don’t post player odds by the time Day 3 of the NFL Draft rolls around - especially when it gets to the last pick of the last round. This is the football player that earns the Mr. Irrelevant nickname. While the majority of the players selected in this spot don’t have very promising NFL careers, some have become relevant names. 

Ever hear of San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy? He was Mr. Irrelevant of the 2022 NFL Draft. Purdy hasn't been the only one to enjoy NFL success. As we await to find out who the next Mr. Irrelevant will be, here’s a look back at recent history pertaining to the final pick.

What’s the story behind Mr. Irrelevant?

For those wondering how this Mr. Irrelevant title came about, it has been the nickname given to the final pick of every NFL Draft since 1976. Dayton wide receiver Kelvin Kirk, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the first of a long list of Mr. Irrelevants.

As far as the nickname goes, former NFL player Paul Salata, who played in the NFL between  1949 to 1951, pitched the crazy idea of the NFL celebrating the underdog - the last pick in the NFL Draft - like they do with the  No. 1 overall pick. After all, being selected by a NFL team is a pretty big deal. Today, there is even a Mr. Irrelevant Week website. Details of the 2026 event have yet to be announced.

Brock Purdy:  From Mr. Irrelevant to Super Bowl starting QB

There is no debating the fact that Purdy is the most successful Mr. Irrelevant story of all time. It also helps being with the right team at the right time. 

When 49ers starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo suffered an injury during the 2022 season, Purdy got a chance to show what he can do. He has been San Francisco’s starting quarterback ever since. 

His best season so far came during the 2023 season when Purdy completed 69 percent of his passes for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only 11 interceptions. All the 49ers did that season was win the NFC Championship and face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. The 49ers ended up losing the game 25-22 in overtime. All of this was accomplished with a former Mr. Irrelevant starting behind center.

Five other final draft picks that enjoyed NFL success

Looking back at every final draft pick since 1976, the list includes several names that will likely trigger an immediate “Who?” response. However, several other Mr. Irrelevants have enjoyed some NFL success. Here are five players who made themselves relevant after being the last NFL Draft pick.

Ryan Succop, K, Kansas City Chiefs (2009)

Ryan Succop spent 14 seasons in the NFL with three different franchises - the Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prior to retiring following the 2022 season, Succop won a Super Bowl ring with the Bucs. He stands out as a Mr. Irrelevant to play in and win a Super Bowl. Tampa Bay defeated Kansas City 31-9 in Super Bowl LV with Succop doing his part with a 52-yard field goal and four extra points.

Mike Green, DB, Chicago Bears (2000)

Mike Green, who played college football at Northwestern State, makes the list due his durability as a player. The former defensive back spent eight seasons in the NFL, including six with the Chicago Bears. The 2002 season was the best of his career as Green played in all 16 games and finished with 129 tackles, 100 of which were solo, and a sack. He was also part of Chicago’s 2005 defense that ranked No. 1 in fewest points allowed. 

Marty Moore, LB, New England Patriots (1994)

Marty Moore makes the list because he was the first ever Mr. Irrelevant to win a Super Bowl ring. He earned a roster spot as a rookie, and spent six seasons playing special teams and defense for the Pats. He was on New England’s SB XXXVI roster as the Patriots defeated the Rams. Moore played in 112 games over eight NFL seasons, including one with the Cleveland Browns. He had 183 career tackles and three interceptions.

Jim Finn, FB, Chicago Bears (1999)

Jim Finn might've been drafted by the Chicago Bears, but he made himself relevant during his seven NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants. He appeared in all 16 games in four of those seasons, including the last three with the G-Men. His career numbers included 60 catches for 423 yards and a touchdown.

Tae Crowder, LB, New York Giants (2020)

Tae Crowder wasted little time showing he belonged in the NFL. In his first season with the New York Giants, the former Georgia Bulldog played in 11 games, recorded 57 tackles, one sack, and a fumble return for a touchdown. Crowder played in 41 games during his time with Big Blue and racked up 232 career tackles. These days he is playing with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. 

2026 NFL Draft Mr. Irrelevant odds

If you’re looking to bet on a specific player becoming the next Mr. Irrelevant, it's not a market offered by legal U.S. sportsbooks. Finding odds for “Exact Position of Mr. Irrelevant” is much more likely.

Unless the pick is traded away, the Denver Broncos will be making the Mr. Irrelevant selection - pick No. 257 overall. Fanatics Sportsbook has posted odds for 10 positions, with kicker, punter or long snapper having the longest odds (+2500). The table below shows what Fanatics Sportsbook odds looked like for other positions days before the draft.