NFL Draft 2024: Why Mr. Irrelevant Is Relevant?

Wait, who was that kid again? The 262nd and final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft? Leading the San Francisco 49ers on a magical playoff run as a rookie? Yeah, that was “Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy alright – taking the phrase from insult to badge of honor. From Irrelevant Week celebrations to dance-offs at Disneyworld, the annual spotlight on the draft’s biggest underdog has become a must-see.

The league’s biggest longshots have been going from laughingstock to lockdown starters. With Purdy leading the charge, it’s the perfect time to revisit how “Mr. Irrelevant” went from literal meaning to a launching pad for legends.

The Evolution of “Mr. Irrelevant” at the NFL Draft

Back in 1976, the last pick in the NFL draft was branded “Mr. Irrelevant” as a sort of punchline by PR man Paul Salata. The idea was to poke fun at the player picked dead last after every other prospect was off the board. But fueled by that mockery, these longshot players from Kelvin Kirk in 1976 to Purdy have turned the narrative on its head time and again.

Guys like Marty Moore, Jim Finn, and David Vobora took the jokes at the Irrelevant Week roasts, where they were presented with the Lowsman Trophy (a play on the Heisman). But they stuck around the NFL for years regardless, defying expectations. When Finn was given a greater role by the Big Blue, his gameplay skyrocketed in the passing game, catching 50 passes for 379 yards. Just ask Ryan Succop, who went from that draft afterthought label to an All-Pro kicker and Super Bowl champ with the Bucs.

What started as Salata’s lighthearted week to uplift the downtrodden final pick has become an underdog spectacle. Storylines like Brock Purdy’s miraculous rise from Mr. Irrelevant to starting QB have made this event a must-see, driving home that message.

Brock Purdy’s storybook “Irrelevance”

If anyone personifies just how far the “Mr. Irrelevant” mantle has come, it’s Brock Purdy. The latest to bear that moniker after going last in the 2022 draft has taken it from insult to badge of honor with his storybook rookie season. From getting “Brock-star” chants during Irrelevant Week to leading the 49ers to the NFC Championship game, Purdy is rewriting the scouting reports on what the final pick can achieve.

It was a whirlwind journey from the second Purdy’s name was called at 262. His Irrelevant Week was pure pandemonium – from restaurant tours with a megaphone-toting entourage to a seemingly endless series of stunts and celebrations fit for a king, not the last guy picked. But Purdy took it all in stride with that trademark cool.

From the ultimate underdog lark to leading men, Purdy has made the most of his storybook tale. His 17-4 record as a starter has him well on his way to surpassing guys like Marty Moore (112 games) and Ryan Succop (216 games, Super Bowl champ) as pro football’s most accomplished “Mr. Irrelevant” ever. Not bad for a guy who had to convince over 100 friends and family to not eat the Irrelevant cake before he was even drafted. As coach Kyle Shanahan said, “If he ever got the chance, he would crush it.” Purdy’s making that an understatement in re-defining “Irrelevant” entirely.