Mr. Irrelevants from the last 30 years of the NFL Draft

The Denver Broncos signed Case Keenum to be their quarterback in 2018 and selected Paxton Lynch in the first round of the 2016 draft. In between, John Elway and company made Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly the final pick in 2017. Kelly was placed on the non-football injury list after inking a four-year deal before training camp and has yet to play an NFL game.

With the 253rd pick in the 2016 draft, the Tennessee Titans took the cornerback out of Southern Miss. After making the team, Reed found his way into four games as a rookie and was credited with a tackle.

The Arizona Cardinals made tight end Gerald Christian the final pick in 2015. A Louisville product, Christian began his collegiate career at Florida before transferring, being named Third-Team All-ACC for the Cardinals. He did not see any game action in his first NFL season, but in 2016, Christian played in three games and caught one pass.

The Texans seem to have high hopes for Ballentine, a safety out of Memphis. He hasn’t done much so far through two seasons in which he saw the field, but he did sign a four-year deal.

2013’s Mr. Irrelevant was selected by the Colts initially, but Cunningham has spent more time with the Rams. The tight end has just one catch for four yards to his name so far and did not play in 2016.

The Colts took Harnish on the heels of his impressive college career at Northern Illinois. He’s yet to get his chance in the pros. 

Selected by the Texans, Ozougwu has logged just nine tackles so far in his career and has not played in the NFL since 2013.

Originally selected by the Lions, Toone kicked around on several teams’ practice squads before finally being waived by the Saints in 2013.

The Chiefs pulled a fast one on everybody by nabbing Succop with the last pick in 2009. He led the team in scoring his rookie year and has been a reliable kicker for the Chiefs and Titans for several years.

The linebacker out of Idaho played four seasons in the NFL for the Rams and Seahawks. He actually started for the Rams in 2009, though he eventually ended his career with just 80 tackles and two sacks.

Robinson played two seasons with the Lions and went on to have a cup of coffee with the Eagles, Browns, Redskins and Broncos. The cornerback from Alabama ended his football-playing days with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

McMahan, a wide receiver, was drafted out of Maine by the Raiders in 2006. He quickly parted ways with the Raiders and managed to latch on with four other NFL teams, though never getting off any practice squad.

The Patriots took a gamble on Stokes, a tight end out of William Penn University, with the last pick of the 2005 draft. Regrettably, Stokes didn’t pan out. 

Sommersell, a linebacker from Colorado State, was originally drafted by the Raiders. After brief stints with the Raiders and Colts, Sommersell took his talents abroad, first in Canada, then to Europe and eventually finding employment in the fledgling Emirates American Football League. Sommersell is currently coaching for the Dubai Stallions.

Long before he was a star on "The Bachelorette," Hoag had a starring role as a wide receiver for the mighty "Golden Gusties" of Gustavus Adolphus College. His riveting performance there inspired the Raiders to give him the final red rose of the 2003 draft. Hoag bounced around and ended up playing for five different NFL teams.

The Texans selected the massive UNLV defensive tackle with their last pick in 2002, but unfortunately he was out of football by 2003.

Tevita, a titanic tight end from Tongatapu, Tonga, (via BYU) flamed out after just two seasons on NFL practice squads.

The Bears found a nice surprise whey took Green with the last pick of the 2000 draft. He stuck with the team for five years before finishing out his career with stints in Seattle and Washington. The safety amassed a respectable 426 tackles over eight NFL seasons.

Finn is another Mr. Irrelevant success story. Cut after just one year on the Bears’ practice squad, the fullback resurfaced with Indianapolis and eventually landed with the Giants, where he enjoyed his most fruitful time in the league. He started 13 games in 2005, leading the way for Tiki Barber’s spectacular 1,850-yard rushing season.

The Ravens took the Weber State tight end with the 241^st pick of the ’98 draft. He didn’t make the squad, though he eventually landed a gig playing football with the Barcelona Dragons. Quayle is now a dentist.

The Packers took a flier on McAda, a quarterback from the U.S. Military Academy, with the last pick of the ’97 draft. He logged just one season with Green Bay before being cut.

In the seventh round of the 1996 draft, the 49ers took Sandor (Sean) Manuel, a tight end from New Mexico State. With their final pick, which was the last of the draft, they took Sandor’s twin brother, Sam. Neither brother established himself in the NFL, though Sam will live on forever as 1996’s Mr. Irrelevant.

Reed’s NFL career consisted of three games played with the Carolina Panthers (and two tackles). He later played two seasons for the Frankfurt Galaxy before moving to the sidelines as a coach. He now coaches the defensive backs at Clemson.

One of the most successful Mr. Irrelevants of all time, Moore managed to carve out a nice career for himself. The linebacker played eight seasons in the NFL and became the first Mr. Irrelevant to play in a Super Bowl when he took part in the Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXI win.

The hefty Akron placekicker spent just one season with the Bucs before eventually plying his wares in Europe and the Arena League. He made 100 out 202 field goal attempts in his Arena League career, which sounds terrible, but those uprights are pretty close together I guess.

The beefy offensive lineman from Michigan enjoyed some success in NFL. He played in 63 games for the Redskins and Panthers, and had a helpful role in the Panthers’ 1996 playoff run.

The Giants took Wanke, a quarterback from John Carroll College, with the last pick of the ’91 draft. He was never going to usurp Jeff Hostetler or Phil Simms, so they cut him in training camp. Wanke is now a realtor.

The Raiders made Demetrius Davis the first Mr. Irrelevant of the 1990s when they took the Nevada tight end with the 331^st pick of the 1990 draft. Davis played briefly for the Raiders before heading to Europe, where he played with the Barcelona Dragons for several years.

The Ohio State receiver didn’t end up making the ’89 Vikings squad, but he did go on to greater things by serving in the U.S. Army.

Beathard was plucked from obscurity by the Rams with the last pick in the ’88 draft. The running back from Southern Oregon State University never quite panned out on the field, but he did eventually land a gig with the Rams scouting staff.