Mr. Irrelevant explained: How the NFL Draft’s final pick became a tradition

Or, rather, that will be the case for 256 of those players.

One unfortunate youngster picked in this year’s draft – as is the case every year – will be forever known as “Mr. Irrelevant”, the nickname given to every player who is selected with the very last pick of the NFL draft.

The name originated in 1976, when former wide receiver Paul Salata founded “Irrelevant Week”, which aimed to shine a light on players who, like himself, had enjoyed comparatively “irrelevant” NFL careers.

From then on, the last pick in each draft was labelled Mr. Irrelevant and would be invited to Irrelevant Week in Newport Beach, California.Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The invitation also included a trip to Disneyland, a golf tournament and the presentation of the “Lowsman” trophy, a play on the Heisman Trophy given each year to the best player in college football.

The design of the Lowsman mimicked that of the Heisman, only it depicted a player fumbling the football.

Most players selected with the final pick in the draft make little to no impact in the NFL, with many cut from their team’s roster before the season even begins.

There have been some notable exceptions, though. In total, three Mr. Irrelevants have earned a Pro Bowl selection, and four have played in a Super Bowl.

Brock Purdy, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback who was chosen with the 262nd and last pick of the 2022 draft, is the only Mr. Irrelevant to do both.