View source for Mr. Irrelevant

{{short description|Humorous honor given to the last player selected in the NFL draft}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}}
[[File:BrockPurdy2021 (cropped2).jpg|thumb|[[Brock Purdy]] was selected as Mr. Irrelevant in the [[2022 NFL draft]]]]

'''Mr. Irrelevant''' is the nickname given to a player selected with the final pick in an [[NFL draft]]. Players chosen with this pick are often released from the team that drafted them before the regular season begins. Some exceptions include [[Jacque MacKinnon]], [[Ryan Succop]], [[Marty Moore]], and [[Brock Purdy]].

==History==
[[File:Salata-Paul-1949.jpg|thumb|left|"Irrelevant Week" founder Paul Salata in 1949]]
"Mr. Irrelevant" and "Irrelevant Week" began in 1976 when former [[USC Trojans football|USC]] and pro football receiver [[Paul Salata]] founded the event in [[Newport Beach, California]]. Salata had a short and "irrelevant" career in professional football, playing the [[1949 AAFC season]] as a member of the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and in the [[1950 NFL season]] for the first [[Baltimore Colts (1947–1950)|Baltimore Colts]], and sought to bring attention to other unlauded players for whom a professional career was likely to be fleeting.<ref name=Petersen>"Salata's Short Career: Irrelevance is Relative," ''Petersen's 19th Annual: Pro Football 1979.'' Los Angeles: Petersen Publishing Co., 1979, pp. 30–31.</ref>

Originally organized by Salata and fellow members of the Balboa Bay Club,<ref name=Petersen /> after each draft the new Mr. Irrelevant — last player selected in the annual [[NFL draft]] — and his family are invited to spend a week during the summer in Newport Beach. A trip to [[Disneyland]], a golf tournament featuring a main foursome consisting of the highest-handicapped golfers from each of four neighboring courses,<ref name=Petersen /> a [[regatta|No Start/No Finish regatta]],<ref name=Petersen /> a [[roast (comedy)|roast]] giving advice to the new draftee, and a ceremony awarding him the '''Lowsman Trophy''' are traditional activities associated with "Irrelevant Week". The trophy mimics the [[Heisman Trophy]] but depicts a player [[Fumble|fumbling]] a football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/21474/irrelevant-week-is-pretty-well-relevant|title=Irrelevant Week is pretty, well, relevant|date=May 2013 |access-date=April 29, 2017}}</ref>

"Irrelevant Week" gave so much publicity to "Mr. Irrelevant" that in [[1979 NFL draft|1979]] the [[1979 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]], with the penultimate pick, intentionally passed to let the [[1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]], with the last pick, choose before them. The Steelers also wanted the publicity and passed as well. The two teams continued to refuse to choose a player until [[NFL Commissioner]] [[Pete Rozelle]] forced the teams to pick, with the Steelers winning the pick. The incident led to the "Salata Rule", which prohibits teams from passing to get the final pick.<ref name="merron20050418">{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=list/050418/draftdays&num=0 | title=The strangest NFL draft moments | publisher=ESPN | date=April 18, 2005 | access-date=December 18, 2014 | author=Merron, Jeff}}</ref>

Prior to the establishment of Mr. Irrelevant in 1976, the first final pick to make the Pro Bowl was [[Bill Fischer (American football)|Bill Fischer]], who was the last pick in the [[1948 NFL draft]]. He was drafted by the [[Chicago Cardinals]] after his junior season at [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]].  He opted to stay in school, and won the [[Outland Trophy]] as the nation's top interior lineman in 1948.  The Cardinals drafted him again in [[1949 NFL draft|1949]], this time with their first-round pick.

The last player chosen in the [[1961 NFL draft]], [[Jacque MacKinnon]], had a successful 10-season career. However he signed with the [[San Diego Chargers]] of the rival [[American Football League]] instead of with the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. He appeared in two [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star Games]] in 1966 and 1968.  He is one of only three final picks to appear in a [[Pro Bowl]] or the equivalent.

[[Jimmy Walker (basketball, born 1944)|Jimmy Walker]] was the final pick in the [[1967 NFL/AFL Draft|1967 NFL draft]], despite never having played college football. His main sport, however, was [[basketball]], in which he was a consensus All-American and the nation's leading scorer as a senior at [[Providence Friars men's basketball|Providence College]]. Walker was the first pick in the [[1967 NBA draft]], and opted for a career in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/mens_basketball/articles/2007/07/03/providence_hoops_legend_jimmy_walker_dies_at_63/ |title=Providence hoops legend Jimmy Walker dies at 63 |first=Peter |last=May |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=July 3, 2007 |access-date=August 8, 2007}}</ref>

The first Mr. Irrelevant to play in the [[Super Bowl]] was [[Marty Moore]], a [[special teams]] player drafted last in [[1994 NFL draft|1994]], who played with the [[New England Patriots]] in [[Super Bowl XXXI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nesn.com/2010/03/mr-irrelevant-marty-moore-a-major-success-story-for-patriots/|title='Mr. Irrelevant' Marty Moore a Major Success Story for Patriots|date=March 10, 2010|access-date=April 29, 2017|work=NESN}}</ref>

Salata announced the final pick of each [[NFL draft]] until 2013; from 2014 his daughter took over in announcing the pick.

== Notable selections ==
[[File:JimFinn.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|[[Jim Finn]], Mr. Irrelevant of the [[1999 NFL draft]], and [[Super Bowl XLII]] champion]]
[[File:Ryan Succop WFT-Buccaneers NOV2021 (cropped).jpg|160px|thumb|right|[[Ryan Succop]], Mr. Irrelevant of the [[2009 NFL draft]] and [[Super Bowl LV]] champion]]
Since the NFL Draft was cut to its current seven-round format in 1994, players presented with this dubious honor have more often succeeded in making the team that drafted them, with some making significant contributions.

* [[Tyrone McGriff]] was perhaps the most successful Mr. Irrelevant from the pre-1994 era. He was drafted by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] with the last pick of the 12th round in 1980. He made the 1980 [[PFWA All-Rookie Team|NFL All-Rookie Team]], and played two more seasons for the Steelers. In 1983, he moved on to the [[Michigan Panthers]] of the upstart [[United States Football League]]. He won a league championship ring that year, as well as a spot on the USFL All-Star Team.
* [[John Tuggle]] started five games as a fullback his rookie year, and was named the 1983 [[New York Giants]] Special Teams Player of the Year. However, during the 1984 training camp, he was diagnosed with cancer. He never played again, and died in 1986.
* [[Marty Moore]], a [[special teams]] player, became the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in a [[Super Bowl]] with the [[New England Patriots]] in [[Super Bowl XXXI]] and first Mr. Irrelevant to win a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in [[Super Bowl XXXVI]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nesn.com/2010/03/mr-irrelevant-marty-moore-a-major-success-story-for-patriots/|title='Mr. Irrelevant' Marty Moore a Major Success Story for Patriots|date=March 10, 2010|access-date=April 29, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Mike Green (defensive back)|Mike Green]] played a significant role in the [[Chicago Bears]] secondary in the 2000s, and played from 2000 to 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.al.com/national/2013/04/nfl_draft_2013_top_5_mr_irrele.html|title=NFL Draft 2013: Top 5 most relevant Mr. Irrelevant selections of all time|date=April 27, 2013 |access-date=April 29, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Jim Finn]] was on the roster as a [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] for the [[New York Giants]] on their victory in [[Super Bowl XLII]]. Prior to the 2007 season, Finn was placed on injured reserve and never played a game for the Giants on their road to the Super Bowl that year, having been replaced by [[Madison Hedgecock]].  He had been the Giants fullback for four seasons.<ref name=usatoday>{{cite web|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/04/where-are-they-now-catching-up-with-20-different-mr-irrelevant-draft-picks|title=20 NFL draft Mr. Irrelevants who worked their way to (some sort of) relevance|date=April 29, 2016|access-date=April 29, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Ryan Succop]], the [[2009 NFL draft|2009 designee]], became the starting [[place kicker|kicker]] for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. He went on to tie the NFL record for highest field goal percentage by a rookie in a season with 86.2 percent, and also passed NFL Hall of Famer [[Jan Stenerud]] for most field goals made by a rookie in Chiefs history. Succop was awarded the [[Kansas City Chiefs awards#Mack Lee Hill Award|Mack Lee Hill Award]] that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kcchiefs.com/news/2010/01/05/rb_jamaal_charles_voted_derrick_thomas_award_winner_k_ryan_succop_wins_mack_lee_hill_award/ |title=Kansas City Chiefs - RB Jamaal Charles Voted Derrick Thomas Award Winner, K Ryan Succop Wins Mack Lee Hill Award |access-date=January 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113032704/http://kcchiefs.com/news/2010/01/05/rb_jamaal_charles_voted_derrick_thomas_award_winner_k_ryan_succop_wins_mack_lee_hill_award/ |archive-date=January 13, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He has been a starting kicker since his rookie season. Succop moved on to the [[Tennessee Titans]] for the 2014 season and was signed to a contract extension in early 2018 before being released in March 2020 and signing with the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] in early September. He proceeded to win [[Super Bowl LV]] with the team, becoming the second Mr. Irrelevant to win an NFL championship, and first to play and win a Super Bowl as a starter and an active player.
* [[Chad Kelly]], the [[2017 NFL draft|2017 designee]] and former [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]] quarterback, is the nephew of former [[Buffalo Bills]] quarterback and [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Jim Kelly]]. Drafted last largely because injury and discipline questions had lowered his previously high draft stock, Kelly progressed to become the [[Denver Broncos]]' second-string quarterback by the 2018 preseason before being released on October 24, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/john-elway-broncos-not-giving-up-on-paxton-lynch-0ap3000000930840 |title=John Elway: Broncos giving up on Paxton Lynch |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |date=May 1, 2018 |website=[[NFL.com]] |access-date=May 2, 2018}}</ref> He later signed with the Indianapolis Colts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/roundup-colts-sign-former-broncos-qb-chad-kelly-0ap3000001031254 |title=Roundup: Colts sign former Broncos QB Chad Kelly |website=NFL.com |language=en |access-date=2019-06-04}}</ref> After moving to the [[Canadian Football League]], Kelly won the [[109th Grey Cup]] in relief of [[Toronto Argonauts]] starting quarterback [[McLeod Bethel-Thompson]].<ref>{{Cite web |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2022-11-20 |title=Toronto Argonauts win 109th Grey Cup Winnipeg Blue Bombers |url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/toronto-argonauts-win-109th-grey-cup-winnipeg-blue-bombers-1.1881228 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=TSN |language=en-CA}}</ref> The following season Kelly led the team to a 16–2 record before they lost in the playoffs to the eventual champions in Montreal. He was later awarded the CFL most outstanding player for that season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://press.cfl.ca/chad-kelly-named-2023-george-reed-most-outstanding-player | title=Chad Kelly Named 2023 George Reed Most Outstanding Player }}</ref>
* [[Brock Purdy]], the [[2022 NFL draft|2022 designee]], was propelled into the starting [[quarterback]] role for the [[San Francisco 49ers]] after injuries to the first- and second-string quarterbacks, [[Trey Lance]] and [[Jimmy Garoppolo]]. In his rookie season, Purdy became the only rookie quarterback to beat [[Tom Brady]] in a starting debut. Purdy became the first Mr. Irrelevant to complete a forward pass, a touchdown pass, and a rushing touchdown in the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/12/11/photos-san-francisco-49ers-brock-purdy-only-quarterback-to-beat-tom-brady-in-first-career-start|title=Photos: San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy only quarterback to beat Tom Brady in first career start|date=December 12, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/49ers-brock-purdy-first-mr-irrelevant-throw-td-pass-nfl-history|title=Mr. Relevant: Purdy's first career TD pass makes NFL history|website=RSN|date=December 4, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ninerswire.usatoday.com/2022/10/23/brock-purdy-mr-irrelevant-49ers-chiefs-completion/ |title=Brock Purdy makes history in NFL debut |last=Madison |first=Kyle |date=October 23, 2022 |website=USAToday |access-date=October 28, 2022}}</ref> He won all five games he started as San Francisco completed a 10-game winning streak to close out the season, after which he became the first Mr. Irrelevant quarterback to start and win in a playoff game. Purdy was ultimately named a finalist for [[NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year|Offensive Rookie of the Year]], finishing third place in voting. Purdy remained the starting quarterback in [[2023 San Francisco 49ers season|2023]], leading the 49ers to a 5–0 start, a repeat division title, and an appearance in [[Super Bowl LVIII]], where he became the first Mr. Irrelevant to throw a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl, while setting a new single season franchise record for passing yards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/49ers-list-brock-purdy-as-starter-trey-lance-or-sam-darnold-as-no-2-qb|title=49ers list Brock Purdy as starter|website=RSN|date=August 8, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/sf/san-francisco-49ers | title=San Francisco 49ers 2023 Postseason NFL Schedule }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Niners clinch NFC's No. 1 seed with win over Commanders, Eagles' loss to Cardinals |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/niners-clinch-nfc-s-no-1-seed-with-win-over-commanders |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonilla |first=David |date=2023-12-31 |title=Brock Purdy sets 49ers record for passing yards in a single season |url=https://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/176353-brock-record-passing-single-season/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=49ers Webzone |language=en}}</ref>  That season, he finished fourth place in MVP voting<ref>{{cite web|date=2024-02-08|website=Associated Press|title=Lamar Jackson wins AP NFL MVP Award|url=https://apnews.com/live/nfl-awards-mvp-winners|access-date=2024-02-09}}</ref> and was named to his first [[Pro Bowl]], becoming the first 49ers quarterback in two decades to earn the honor.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-04 |title=Purdy becomes 49ers' first Pro Bowl QB in over two decades |url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/brock-purdy-2024-nfl-pro-bowl-games/1687522/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=NBC Sports Bay Area & California |language=en-US}}</ref> Purdy has been nicknamed "Mr. Relevant" for his immediate impact and rise to prominence.<ref name="Bishop 2023 p. ">{{citation | last=Bishop | first=Greg | title=Mr. Irrelevant Has Never Been More Relevant, Thanks to Brock Purdy | date=2023-04-21 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/04/21/mr-irrelevant-49ers-brock-purdy-nfl-draft | language=en-us | access-date=2023-12-08 | page=}}</ref> In 2025, San Francisco signed Purdy to a $265M extension.

==Mr. Irrelevant selections== <!-- The award started in 1976, if the list starts from the first draft it needs a historically-appropriate name -->
{|style="margin: 0.75em 0 0 0.5em;"
|-
|  style="background:#faecc8; border:1px solid #aaa; width:2em; text-align:center;"|
| = Selected to [[Pro Bowl]]
|-
|  style="background:#FFCC00; border:1px solid #aaa; width:2em; text-align:center;"|
| = Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ List of final picks in NFL drafts
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Round
! scope="col" | Pick
! scope="col" | Overall
! scope="col" | Name
! scope="col" | Team
! scope="col" | Position
! scope="col" | College
! scope="col" | Games
|-
![[1936 NFL draft|1936]]
|9||9||81
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Phil|Flanagan|dab=American football}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||G||[[Holy Cross Crusaders football|Holy Cross]]||2
|-
![[1937 NFL draft|1937]]
|10||10||100
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Solon|Holt|nolink=1}}
|[[Cleveland Rams|Rams]]||G||[[TCU Horned Frogs football|TCU]]||0
|-
![[1938 NFL draft|1938]]
|12||10||110
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Ferd|Dreher}}
|[[Chicago Bears|Bears]]||E|| [[Denver Pioneers football|Denver]]||3
|-
![[1939 NFL draft|1939]]
|22||5||200
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Jack|Rhodes|nolink=1}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||G||[[Texas Longhorns football|Texas]]||0
|-
![[1940 NFL draft|1940]]
|22||5||200
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Myron|Claxton|nolink=1}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||T||[[Whittier Poets football|Whittier]]||0
|-
![[1941 NFL draft|1941]]
|22||2||204
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Mort|Landsberg|nolink=1}}
|[[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]]||B||[[Cornell Big Red football|Cornell]]||17
|-
![[1942 NFL draft|1942]]
|22||5||200
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Stu|Clarkson}}
|[[Chicago Bears|Bears]]||C||[[Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas football|Texas A&I]]||75
|-
![[1943 NFL draft|1943]]
|32||5||300
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Bo|Bogovich|nolink=1}}
|[[Washington Commanders|Redskins]]||G||[[Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football|Delaware]]||0
|-
![[1944 NFL draft|1944]]
|32||6||330
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Walton|Roberts|nolink=1}}
|[[Boston Yanks|Yanks]]||B||Texas||0
|-
![[1945 NFL draft|1945]]
|32||6||330
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Billy Joe|Aldridge|nolink=1}}
|[[Green Bay Packers|Packers]]||B||[[Oklahoma State Cowboys football|Oklahoma A&M]]||0
|-
![[1946 NFL draft|1946]]
|32||5||300
! scope="row" | {{sortname|John|West|nolink=1}}
|[[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]]||B||[[Oklahoma Sooners football|Oklahoma]]||0
|-
![[1947 NFL draft|1947]]
|32||7||300
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Don|Clayton|nolink=1}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||B||[[North Carolina Tar Heels football|North Carolina]]||0
|-| bgcolor="#faecc8"|
![[1948 NFL draft|1948]]{{efn|Fischer was originally drafted last in the 1948 Draft by the Chicago Cardinals, although he elected to remain at college. He was then drafted by the same team in the first round of the 1949 Draft.}}
|32||7||300
| {{sortname|Bill|Fischer|dab=American football}}
|[[Arizona Cardinals|Cardinals]]||G||[[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]]||49
|-
![[1949 NFL draft|1949]]
|25||10||251
! scope="row" | {{sortname|John|Schweder}}
|[[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]]||G|| [[Penn Quakers football|Penn]]||71
|-
![[1950 NFL draft|1950]]
|30||13||391
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Dud|Parker|nolink=1}}
|[[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]]||B||[[Baylor Bears football|Baylor]]||0
|-
![[1951 NFL draft|1951]]
|30||11||362
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Sisto|Averno}}
|[[Cleveland Browns|Browns]]||G||[[Muhlenberg Mules|Muhlenberg]]||51
|-
![[1952 NFL draft|1952]]
|30||11||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|John|Saban|nolink=1}}
|[[Cleveland Browns|Browns]]||B||[[Xavier Musketeers football|Xavier]]||0
|-
![[1953 NFL draft|1953]]
|30||11||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Hal|Maus|nolink=1}}
|[[Detroit Lions|Lions]]||E||[[Montana Grizzlies football|Montana]]||0
|-
![[1954 NFL draft|1954]]
|30||11||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Ellis|Horton|nolink=1}}
|[[Detroit Lions|Lions]]||B||[[Eureka Red Devils football|Eureka (IL)]]||0
|-
![[1955 NFL draft|1955]]
|30||11||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Lamar|Leachman}}
|[[Cleveland Browns|Browns]]||C||Tennessee||0
|-
![[1956 NFL draft|1956]]
|30||11||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Bob|Bartholomew|nolink=1}}
|[[Cleveland Browns|Browns]]||T||[[Wake Forest Demon Deacons football|Wake Forest]]||0
|-
![[1957 NFL draft|1957]]
|30||11||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Don|Gest|nolink=1}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||E||[[Washington State Cougars football|Washington State]]||0
|-
![[1958 NFL draft|1958]]
|30||11||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tommy|Bronson|nolink=1}}
|[[Detroit Lions|Lions]]||B||[[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]]||0
|-
![[1959 NFL draft|1959]]
|30||12||360
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Blair|Weese|nolink=1}}
|[[Indianapolis Colts|Colts]]||B||[[West Virginia Tech Golden Bears football|West Virginia Tech]]||0
|-
![[1960 NFL draft|1960]]
|20||12||240
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Bill|Gorman|nolink=1}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||T||[[McMurry War Hawks football|McMurry]]||0
|-| bgcolor="#faecc8"|
![[1961 NFL draft|1961]]
|20||14||280
| {{sortname|Jacque|MacKinnon}}
|[[Philadelphia Eagles|Eagles]]||B||[[Colgate Raiders football|Colgate]]||118
|-
![[1962 NFL draft|1962]]
|20||14||280
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Mike|Snodgrass|nolink=1}}
|[[Green Bay Packers|Packers]]||C||[[Western Michigan Broncos football|Western Michigan]]||0
|-
![[1963 NFL draft|1963]]
|20||14||280
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Bobby|Brezina|nolink=1}}
|[[Green Bay Packers|Packers]]||B||[[Houston Cougars football|Houston]]||1
|-
![[1964 NFL draft|1964]]
|20||14||280
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Dick|Niglio|nolink=1}}
|[[Chicago Bears|Bears]]||RB||[[Yale Bulldogs football|Yale]]||0
|-
![[1965 NFL draft|1965]]
|20||14||280
! scope="row" | {{sortname|George|Haffner}}
|[[Indianapolis Colts|Colts]]||QB||[[McNeese Cowboys football|McNeese State]]||0<!--Dropped "State" from athletic brand name in 2015-->
|-
![[1966 NFL draft|1966]]
|20||15||305
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tom|Carr|nolink=1}}
|[[Indianapolis Colts|Colts]]||T||[[Morgan State Bears football|Morgan State]]||4
|-
![[1967 NFL/AFL Draft|1967]]
|17||26||445
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Jimmy|Walker|dab=basketball, born 1944}}
|[[New Orleans Saints|Saints]]||WR||[[Providence Friars football|Providence]]||0
|-
![[1968 NFL/AFL Draft|1968]]
|17||27||462
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Jimmy|Smith|nolink=1}}
|[[Cincinnati Bengals|Bengals]]||TE||[[Jackson State Tigers football|Jackson State]]||0
|-
![[1969 NFL/AFL draft|1969]]
|17||26||442
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Fred|Zirkle}}
|[[New York Jets|Jets]]||DT||[[Duke Blue Devils football|Duke]]||0
|-
![[1970 NFL draft|1970]]
|17||26||442
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Rayford|Jenkins|nolink=1}}
|[[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]]||DB||[[Alcorn State Braves football|Alcorn A&M]]||0
|-
![[1971 NFL draft|1971]]{{efn|Although some contemporary sources list [[Don Nottingham]], who had a seven-year career in the NFL, as the last pick of this draft, the Oakland Raiders passed when their time came to pick in the last round and wound up choosing last.}}
|17||26||442
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Charles|Hill|nolink=1}}
|[[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]||WR||[[Sam Houston Bearkats football|Sam Houston State]]||0<!--Dropped "State" from athletic brand name in 2020-->
|-
![[1972 NFL draft|1972]]
|17||26||442
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Alphonso|Cain|nolink=1}}
|[[Dallas Cowboys|Cowboys]]||DT||[[Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football|Bethune–Cookman]]||0
|-
![[1973 NFL draft|1973]]
|17||26||442
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Charlie|Wade|dab=American football}}
|[[Miami Dolphins|Dolphins]]||WR||[[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]]||21
|-
![[1974 NFL draft|1974]]
|17||26||442
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Ken|Dickerson|nolink=1}}
|[[Miami Dolphins|Dolphins]]||DB||[[Tuskegee Golden Tigers football|Tuskegee]]||0
|-
![[1975 NFL draft|1975]]
|17||26||442
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Stan|Hegener|nolink=1}}
|[[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]]|| G||[[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]||0
|-
![[1976 NFL draft|1976]]
|17||28||487
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Kelvin|Kirk}}
|[[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]]||WR||[[Dayton Flyers football|Dayton]]||0
|-
![[1977 NFL draft|1977]]
|12||27||335
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Jim|Kelleher|nolink=1}}
|[[Minnesota Vikings|Vikings]]||RB||[[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]]||0
|-
![[1978 NFL draft|1978]]
|12||28||334
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Lee|Washburn|nolink=1}}
|[[Dallas Cowboys|Cowboys]]||G||[[Montana State Bobcats football|Montana State]]||0
|-
![[1979 NFL draft|1979]]
|12||27||330
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Mike|Almond|nolink=1}}
|[[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]]||WR||[[Northwestern State Demons football|Northwestern State]]||0
|-
![[1980 NFL draft|1980]]
|12||28||333
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tyrone|McGriff}}
|[[Pittsburgh Steelers|Steelers]]||G||[[Florida A&M Rattlers football|Florida A&M]]||36
|-
![[1981 NFL draft|1981]]
|12||28||332
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Phil|Nelson|nolink=1}}
|[[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]||TE||[[Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football|Delaware]]||0
|-
![[1982 NFL draft|1982]]
|12||28||334
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tim|Washington}}
|[[San Francisco 49ers|49ers]]||DB||[[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State]]||2
|-
![[1983 NFL draft|1983]]
|12||28||335
! scope="row" | {{sortname|John|Tuggle}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]{{efn|Pick traded from the Washington Redskins to the New York Giants prior to selection.}}||RB||[[California Golden Bears football|California]]||16
|-
![[1984 NFL draft|1984]]
|12||28||336
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Randy|Essington|nolink=1}}
|[[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]||QB||[[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]]||0
|-
![[1985 NFL draft|1985]]
|12||28||336
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Donald|Chumley}}
|[[San Francisco 49ers|49ers]]||DT||[[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]]||0
|-
![[1986 NFL draft|1986]]
|12||28||333
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Mike|Travis|nolink=1}}
|[[San Diego Chargers|Chargers]]||DB||[[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]]||0
|-
![[1987 NFL draft|1987]]
|12||28||335
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Norman|Jefferson}}
|[[Green Bay Packers|Packers]]{{efn|Pick traded from the New York Giants to the Green Bay Packers prior to selection.}}||DB||[[LSU Tigers football|LSU]]||14
|-
![[1988 NFL draft|1988]]
|12||28||333
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Jeff|Beathard
}}
|[[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]]{{efn|Pick traded from the Washington Redskins to the Los Angeles Rams prior to selection.}}||WR||[[Southern Oregon Raiders football|Southern Oregon]]||0
|-
![[1989 NFL draft|1989]]
|12||28||335
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Everett|Ross|nolink=1}}
|[[Minnesota Vikings|Vikings]]{{efn|Pick traded from the San Francisco 49ers through the Los Angeles Raiders to the Minnesota Vikings prior to selection.}}||WR||[[Ohio State Buckeyes football|Ohio State]]||0
|-
![[1990 NFL draft|1990]]
|12||27||331
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Demetrius|Davis|nolink=1}}
|[[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]{{efn|Pick traded from the San Francisco 49ers to the Los Angeles Raiders prior to selection.}}||TE||[[Nevada Wolf Pack football|Nevada]]||0
|-
![[1991 NFL draft|1991]]
|12||28||334
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Larry|Wanke}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||QB||[[John Carroll Blue Streaks football|John Carroll]]||0
|-
![[1992 NFL draft|1992]]
|12||28||336
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Matt|Elliott|dab=American football}}
|[[Washington Commanders|Redskins]]||C||[[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]]||63
|-
![[1993 NFL draft|1993]]
|8||28||224
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Daron|Alcorn}}
|[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Buccaneers]]{{efn|Pick traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to selection.}}||K||[[Akron Zips football|Akron]]||0
|-| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|
![[1994 NFL draft|1994]]
|7||28||222
| {{sortname|Marty|Moore}}
|[[New England Patriots|Patriots]]{{efn|Pick traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the New England Patriots prior to selection.}}||LB||[[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]||112
|-
![[1995 NFL draft|1995]]
|7||41||249
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Michael|Reed|dab=American football}}
|[[Carolina Panthers|Panthers]]||DB||[[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College]]||3
|-
![[1996 NFL draft|1996]]
|7||45||254
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Sam|Manuel}}
|[[San Francisco 49ers|49ers]]||LB||[[New Mexico State Aggies football|New Mexico State]]||0
|-
![[1997 NFL draft|1997]]
|7||39||240
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Ronnie|McAda}}
|[[Green Bay Packers|Packers]]||QB||[[Army Black Knights football|Army]]||0
|-
![[1998 NFL draft|1998]]
|7||52||241
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Cam|Quayle}}
|[[Baltimore Ravens|Ravens]]||TE||[[Weber State Wildcats football|Weber State]]||0
|-| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|
![[1999 NFL draft|1999]]
|7||47||253
| {{sortname|Jim|Finn}}
|[[Chicago Bears|Bears]]{{efn|Supplemental pick awarded to the reactivated Cleveland Browns, traded from the Browns to the Chicago Bears prior to selection.}}||RB||[[Penn Quakers football|Pennsylvania]]||106
|-
![[2000 NFL draft|2000]]
|7||48||254
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Michael|Green|Mike Green (defensive back)}}
|[[Chicago Bears|Bears]]{{efn|Supplemental pick awarded to the reactivated Cleveland Browns, traded from the Browns to the Chicago Bears prior to selection.}}||DB||[[Northwestern State Demons football|Northwestern State]]||104
|-
![[2001 NFL draft|2001]]
|7||46||246
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tevita|Ofahengaue}}
|[[Arizona Cardinals|Cardinals]]||TE||[[BYU Cougars football|BYU]]||0
|-
![[2002 NFL draft|2002]]
|7||50||261
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Ahmad|Miller}}
|[[Houston Texans|Texans]]||DT||[[UNLV Rebels football|UNLV]]||0
|-
![[2003 NFL draft|2003]]
|7||48||262
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Ryan|Hoag}}
|[[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]{{efn|Supplemental pick awarded to the expansion Houston Texans, traded from the Texans to the Oakland Raiders prior to selection.}}||WR||[[Gustavus Adolphus College#Athletics|Gustavus Adolphus]]||0
|-
![[2004 NFL draft|2004]]
|7||54||255
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Andre|Sommersell}}
|[[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]||LB||[[Colorado State Rams football|Colorado State]]||0
|-
![[2005 NFL draft|2005]]
|7||41||255
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Andy|Stokes}}
|[[New England Patriots|Patriots]]||TE||[[William Penn University#Athletics|William Penn]]||0
|-
![[2006 NFL draft|2006]]
|7||47||255
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Kevin|McMahan}}
|[[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]||WR||[[Maine Black Bears football|Maine]]||0
|-
![[2007 NFL draft|2007]]
|7||45||255
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Ramzee|Robinson}}
|[[Detroit Lions|Lions]]||CB||[[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]||26
|-
![[2008 NFL draft|2008]]
|7||45||252
! scope="row" | {{sortname|David|Vobora}}
|[[St. Louis Rams|Rams]]||OLB||[[Idaho Vandals football|Idaho]]||40
|-| bgcolor="#FFCC00"|
![[2009 NFL draft|2009]]
|7||47||256
| {{sortname|Ryan|Succop}}
|[[Kansas City Chiefs|Chiefs]]||K||[[South Carolina Gamecocks football|South Carolina]]||216
|-
![[2010 NFL draft|2010]]
|7||48||255
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tim|Toone}}
|[[Detroit Lions|Lions]]||WR||[[Weber State Wildcats football|Weber State]]||0
|-
![[2011 NFL draft|2011]]
|7||53||254
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Cheta|Ozougwu}}
|[[Houston Texans|Texans]]||DE||[[Rice Owls football|Rice]]||9
|-
![[2012 NFL draft|2012]]
|7||46||253
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Chandler|Harnish}}
|[[Indianapolis Colts|Colts]]||QB||[[Northern Illinois Huskies football|Northern Illinois]]||0
|-
![[2013 NFL draft|2013]]
|7||48||254
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Justice|Cunningham}}
|[[Indianapolis Colts|Colts]]||TE||[[South Carolina Gamecocks football|South Carolina]]||4
|-
![[2014 NFL draft|2014]]
|7||41||256
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Lonnie|Ballentine}}
|[[Houston Texans|Texans]]||S||[[Memphis Tigers football|Memphis]]||4
|-
![[2015 NFL draft|2015]]
|7||39||256
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Gerald|Christian}}
|[[Arizona Cardinals|Cardinals]]||TE||[[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]]||3
|-
![[2016 NFL draft|2016]]
|7||32||253
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Kalan|Reed}}
|[[Tennessee Titans|Titans]]{{efn|Pick traded from the Denver Broncos to the Tennessee Titans prior to selection. This was a non-compensatory pick.}}||CB||[[Southern Miss Golden Eagles football|Southern Miss]]||7
|-
![[2017 NFL draft|2017]]
|7||35||253
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Chad|Kelly}}
|[[Denver Broncos|Broncos]]||QB||[[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]]||1
|-
![[2018 NFL draft|2018]]
|7||38||256
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Trey|Quinn}}
|[[Washington Commanders|Redskins]]{{efn|Compensatory pick traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Washington Redskins prior to selection; from 2017 onwards, compensatory picks may be traded.}}||WR||[[SMU Mustangs football|SMU]]||16
|-
![[2019 NFL draft|2019]]
|7||40||254
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Caleb|Wilson}}
|[[Arizona Cardinals|Cardinals]]||TE||[[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]]||5
|-
![[2020 NFL draft|2020]]
|7||41||255
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Tae|Crowder}}
|[[New York Giants|Giants]]||LB||[[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]]||43
|-
![[2021 NFL draft|2021]]
|7||31||259
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Grant|Stuard|}}
|[[Tampa Bay Buccaneers|Buccaneers]]||LB||[[Houston Cougars football|Houston]]||66
|-| bgcolor="#faecc8"|
![[2022 NFL draft|2022]]
|7||41||262
| {{sortname|Brock|Purdy|}}
|[[San Francisco 49ers|49ers]]||QB||[[Iowa State Cyclones football|Iowa State]]||40
|-
![[2023 NFL draft|2023]]
|7||42||259
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Desjuan|Johnson|}}
|[[Los Angeles Rams|Rams]]{{efn|Supplemental compensatory pick traded from the Houston Texans to the Los Angeles Rams prior to selection.}}||DE||[[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]]||21
|-
![[2024 NFL draft|2024]]
|7||37||257
! scope="row" | {{sortname|Jaylen|Key|}}
|[[New York Jets|Jets]]||S||[[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]||0
|-
![[2025 NFL draft|2025]]
|7||41||257
! scope="row" |{{sortname|Kobee|Minor|}}
|[[New England Patriots|Patriots]]{{efn|Compensatory pick traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the New England Patriots prior to selection; from 2017 onwards, compensatory picks may be traded.}} ||CB||[[Memphis Tigers football|Memphis]]||
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of first overall NFL draft picks]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://mrirrelevant.org/}}

{{MrIrrelevant}}
{{NFL drafts}}

[[Category:Awards established in 1976]]
[[Category:Ironic and humorous awards]]
[[Category:NFL draft]]
[[Category:NFL trophies and awards]]
[[Category:Sports in Newport Beach, California]]