The New York Jets hope they found a diamond in the rough with this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”

That title goes to the final selection of each NFL Draft.

This year, there were 257 draft picks since Thursday night.

And after seeing 256 players taken ahead of him, Alabama safety Jaylen Key still got a life-changing call when the Jets selected him at 257.

Key transferred to Tuscaloosa after spending four years at UAB, where he played 43 games.

He appeared in 12 of the Crimson Tide’s 14 games last season, recording 60 tackles.

While the expectations are low for Key, there is a prize in being the last man chosen.

Every year, Mr. Irrelevant and his family are invited to Newport Beach, California, for a week of golfing, visiting Disneyland and living a rather relevant lifestyle.

Last year’s Mr. Irrelevant, Desjuan Johnson of the Los Angeles Rams, recorded two sacks in his 11 games last season. He played in a season-high 48% defensive snaps in their final game of the regular season but played in just three snaps in their playoff game against the Detroit Lions.

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jaylen Key warms up before the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif. (Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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In almost every case, there aren’t many expectations for Mr. Irrelevant, but the final pick from 2022 has flipped the script.

That year’s Mr. Irrelevant was Brock Purdy, who became the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback after multiple injuries to other players. He led the Niners to an NFC title game in 2023 and a Super Bowl appearance in 2024.

Since taking over, he has gone 21-6 as a starter, completing 68.7% of his passes for 5,654 yards, 44 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions. Purdy was named to the Pro Bowl last season and finished fourth in the MVP voting.

Defensive back Jaylen Key (6) of the Alabama Crimson Tide defends in coverage during a CFP semifinal game at the Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, Calif.  (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Maybe the title doesn’t show it, but at the very least, “Mr. Irrelevant” is more relevant to the sport than a lot of other players.

Teams will continue acquiring players after the draft as undrafted free agents.

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Former Harvard-Westlake star Kiki Iriafen is coming home.

The former Stanford forward has committed to USC out of the transfer portal, she told ESPN on Saturday, turning the Trojans into immediate national championship contenders. The 6-foot-3 forward, who was named the Pac-12’s most improved player last year, will join forces with national freshman of the year JuJu Watkins and the nation’s top recruiting class as the Trojans try to build on their first Elite Eight appearance since 1994.

Iriafen averaged 19.4 points and 11 rebounds for Stanford as a junior after just 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds as a sophomore. She was named an honorable mention All-American while playing alongside Cameron Brink and leading the Cardinal to a Pac-12 regular season title. She scored a career-high 41 points to hold off Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

The L.A. native, who was a McDonald’s All-American at Harvard-Westlake, graduated from Stanford in three years and entered the portal soon after Stanford’s legendary coach Tara VanDerveer announced her retirement.

Not only do the Trojans add a dynamic post presence with Iriafen, but coach Lindsay Gottlieb continues to build a roster with local stars who can help draw growing crowds to Galen Center. Iriafen, Watkins, starting senior center Rayah Marshall (Lynwood High) and incoming freshman Kennedy Smith (Etiwanda High) are Southern California natives. Excitement surrounding Watkins helped the Trojans nearly quadruple their home attendance this season from the previous year, including a sell-out against UCLA.

The Bruins also added a verbal pledge from a former Pac-12 rival as Washington State guard Charlisse Leger-Walker committed to UCLA on Thursday. The New Zealand national team star who led the Cougars to their first conference tournament title in 2023 suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a game at Pauley Pavilion in January. She was a four-time All-Pac-12 selection and three-time honorable mention All-American averaging 16.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists for her career.

Six quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. But, former South Carolina Gamecocks signal caller Spencer Rattler had to wait until the fifth round to learn his NFL fate.

The New Orleans Saints used the 150th overall pick on Rattler on Saturday. But Shane Beamer, Rattler’s former coach, took issue with how far the quarterback had fallen in the draft. He suggested that unfavorable scouting reports and pre-draft narratives contributed to 149 players being drafted ahead of Rattler.

“Such a tired , lazy narrative. And bullcrap,” Beamer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Beamer proceeded to highlight Rattler’s leadership skills and described the 23-year-old as a “great player.”

“None of the NFL teams that called me said that….And any team that thinks that clearly hasn’t done their research He dealt w adversity at OU in a class way , came to SC , was a great player and was voted by his TEAMMATES as a captain …TWO YEARS IN A ROW He’s a great person , great player and some team is getting a future starter today.”

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Some analysts and mock drafts projected Rattler would land in the second or third round.

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Beamer later congratulated Rattler for landing in New Orleans.

“Thanks for the amazing moments we’ve shared together since 2019 at @GamecockFB & Oklahoma…. You’re a great teammate , player & person ! You got a great one @Saints -Your best [football] is in front of you @SpencerRattler,” Beamer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Spencer Rattler #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks passes during the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Athens, Georgia.  (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Rattler suggested he was content to be selected at any point in the draft.

“At the end of the day it’s a blessing to get picked wherever,” Rattler said on Saturday. “I knew we were waiting around a day or two but I had faith that I would be picked today. … I was very happy the Saints came and picked me, what a great feeling.”

Spencer Rattler #7 of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks to pass against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field on December 30, 2022 in Jacksonville, Florida.  (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Rattler’s appearance on a reality show may have negatively impacted his draft stock. In 2019, Rattler was a high football player and was featured on Netflix’s docuseries “QB1: Beyond the Lights.”

“This is kind of weird to say, honestly,” Rapoport said. “Rattler did a reality show in high school called QB1: Beyond the Lights. It did not make him look great, and it is unbelievable how many different teams mentioned to me the image of him in that show and that they can’t get it out of their heads, which I think would be a public service announcement to all 17-year-olds. But it is fascinating as teams weigh whether or not to draft him.”

Rattler started his college football career at Oklahoma, before transferring to South Carolina. He finished his college career with 10,807 passing yards and 77 touchdowns.

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