Jets select Alabama safety Jaylen Key with the final pick as the NFL draft's 'Mr. Irrelevant'

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets selected Alabama safety Jaylen Key with the final pick of the NFL draft Saturday, the spot commonly referred to as “Mr. Irrelevant.”

Key was the 257th player drafted to complete the three-day, seven-round event.

He transferred to Alabama after four seasons at UAB and became a starter for the Crimson Tide. Key had an interception and 60 total tackles last season.

It's the second time the Jets had the final pick in the draft, and first since they took Duke defensive tackle Fred Zirkle with the 442nd selection in 1969. Zirkle never played for New York, instead choosing a business career rather than one on the gridiron.

Key might have a shot at sticking in the pros, based on recent history.

San Francisco took Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy with the last pick in the 2022 draft and he has been anything but irrelevant.

He worked his way from third-stringer to starter as a rookie and won the starting job last season and led the 49ers to the Super Bowl. Purdy led the NFL in passer rating, total quarterback rating and yards gained per attempt and was selected the NFC's starting QB for the Pro Bowl.

While they haven't seen nearly that sort of success yet, the other most recent “Mr. Irrelevant” picks — defensive end Desjuan Johnson (Rams, 2023), linebacker Grant Stuard (Buccaneers, 2021) and linebacker Tae Crowder (Giants, 2020) — have gone on to play significant snaps in the NFL.

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