If the University of Alabama shows interest in a football player, the odds are schools from coast to coast lined up to sign the recruit.
The Crimson Tide were a perennial power in the college football landscape under Nick Saban, a period that spans the entirety of the football-watching memory for most draft-eligible players.
Such programs get their first choice more often than not, which adds to the intrigue for the newest Mr. Irrelevant, a title annually bestowed upon the last pick in the NFL draft.
The New York Jets selected Alabama safety Jaylen Key with the 257th and final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday in Detroit.
Key transferred to Alabama for his last year of college eligibility after spending the previous five seasons with the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
He started in 12 of 14 games for the Crimson Tide this fall, making 60 tackles and recording one interception. Alabama reached the College Football Playoff, where it lost to eventual champion Michigan 27-20 in the Rose Bowl. Key made four tackles in the contest.
There is a growing track record of on-the-field accomplishment by the Mr. Irrelevant family. That list includes quarterback Brock Purdy, who set the bar higher by taking the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in his second season.
A 6-foot-2, 210-pound native of Quincy, Fla., Key will soon head out to the west coast for the Irrelevant Week festivities in Newport Beach.
Key also became the second player out of Alabama to be selected as Mr. Irrelevant, joining Ramzee Robinson, a cornerback chosen by the Detroit Lions in 2007.
Irrelevant Week chief executive Melanie Salata Fitch and her family were on stage at the draft to announce the pick. The tradition of Mr. Irrelevant was established by former NFL wide receiver Paul Salata in 1976.
“We’re excited to celebrate our first Irrelevant Jet player and bring him out to Newport Beach,” said Salata Fitch, who is targeting a late June return for Irrelevant Week. “When you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way.”
While the exact date for the Lowsman Banquet has not been determined, Salata Fitch said the event will remain at the Cannery Seafood of the Pacific in Newport Beach.
Other traditional activities for Irrelevant Week are expected to continue, including a visit with the Newport Beach junior lifeguards and the popular surfing lesson with Peter “PT” Townend.
FAQs
The Jets put the finishing touches on the 2024 NFL Draft Saturday night, selecting Alabama defensive back Jaylen Key with the final pick of the 7th Round (No. 257) and granting him the title "Mr. Irrelevant." "I actually was off in the garage while my family was in the living room watching the draft," Key said.
Who is Mr. Irrelevant in 2024 from the NFL draft? ›
Such programs get their first choice more often than not, which adds to the intrigue for the newest Mr. Irrelevant, a title annually bestowed upon the last pick in the NFL draft. The New York Jets selected Alabama safety Jaylen Key with the 257th and final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday in Detroit.
Did Jaylen Key get drafted? ›
Despite the title, he is very relevant to those right here in Gadsden County. The New York Jets drafted Jaylen Saturday as a safety. He played for University Alabama Birmingham then transferred to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
Who is Jaylen Key in the NFL? ›
Jaylen Key (born February 29, 2000) is an American football safety for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UAB Blazers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was selected by the Jets with the final pick of the 2024 NFL draft.
How many Alabama players were drafted in 2024? ›
DETROIT – The University of Alabama football program had 10 total former players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, including Justin Eboigbe (No. 105, Los Angeles Chargers) in the fourth round, Jase McClellan (No.
Who has the number one pick in the 2024 draft? ›
The worst kept secret in the NFL finally came to fruition Thursday as the Chicago Bears selected highly-touted USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Who was the last player drafted in 2024? ›
The honor of Mr. Irrelevant for the 2024 NFL Draft was given to former Alabama safety Jaylen Key, as the New York Jets selected him with the final pick of the draft, No. 257 overall. The UAB transfer played just one season in Tuscaloosa, and recorded 60 total tackles, one pass defensed and one interception.
When was Jaylen Samuels drafted? ›
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Samuels in the fifth round with the 165th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Who drafted Jaylen Watson? ›
Watson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round, 243rd overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Did the Jets do good in the draft? ›
Overall New York Jets grade: B-
The Jets didn't have a ton of draft capital to work with, but they still found some quality players, including a potential franchise tackle in Olu Fashanu from Penn State. He'll be a fixture up front for a long, long time if the injury issues from last season don't reappear.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The 2024 NFL draft kicked off Thursday night from Detroit, and the New York Jets took offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu with the No. 11 pick after trading down one spot.
How many draft picks do the NY Jets have in 2025? ›
Future Picks at a Glance
| Year | Total Picks | Round 3 |
|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 2 ✅(NYJ) 🚨(DET via 2024 draft: No. 126/Round 4) |
| 2026 | 7 | 0 or 1 ❓(to PHI via Haason Reddick: Surpasses 67.5% of snaps or collects 10 sacks in 2024) |
| 2027 | 7 | 1 ✅(NYJ) |
The Jets put the finishing touches on the 2024 NFL Draft Saturday night, selecting Alabama defensive back Jaylen Key with the final pick of the 7th Round (No. 257) and granting him the title "Mr. Irrelevant."
How many NFL players are named Jaylen? ›
How many Jalens are in the NFL? In all, there are 44 Jalens/Jaylens/Jaelyns on NFL rosters at the start of training camp. Of the 32 NFL teams, 26 include at least one Jalen.
Who was DeVonta Smith quarterback? ›
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith reacts to going to play with his former college quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Who was the last person in the 2024 draft? ›
The 2024 NFL Draft wrapped up on Saturday with the New York Jets' selection of Alabama safety Jaylen Key with the 257th pick.
Who did Buffalo draft in 2024? ›
2024 Draft Picks
- 2 (33): WR Keon Coleman, Florida State.
- 2 (60): S Cole Bishop, Utah.
- 3 (95): DI DeWayne Carter, Duke.
- 4 (128): RB Ray Davis, Kentucky.
- 5 (141): C Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia.
- 5 (160): LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington.
- 5 (168): ED Javon Solomon, Troy.
- 6 (204): T Tylan Grable, UCF.
Round 2: 64th Overall - CB Renardo Green, Florida State
Following a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, Green was selected with the 64th-overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
