T-post Tom
04-27-2011, 09:22 PM
Top five ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ NFL Draft picks (since the merger)
The final pick of the NFL Draft has come to be known as Mr. Irrelevant. This is because, in theory, the Mr. Irrelevant draft pick is the least likely to become an NFL star. As a lifelong New Orleans Saints and NFL fan, I can certainly attest to the fact that this is usually the case. However, I have also seen a few Mr. Irrelevant draft picks have productive NFL careers. Take a closer look at the top five Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft picks since the merger.
5. 1999: Chicago Bears: Jim Finn (2000-06)
Jim Finn, 1999's Mr. Irrelevant draft pick, was selected by the Chicago Bears out of Penn. After being released by the Bears, the '99 final draft pick caught on with the Indianapolis Colts and saw limited NFL action in 2000. As a fullback, Finn was primarily used for blocking but occasionally ran pass routes. Mr. Irrelevant was very relevant for the New York Giants in 2005 when he started 13 games. In the NFL, Finn caught 60 passes and scored one touchdown.
4. 1973: Miami Dolphins: Charlie Wade (1974-77)
After going undefeated and winning the Super Bowl in 1972, the Dolphins earned the honor of receiving the Mr. Irrelevant 1973 draft pick. That year, there were still 17 rounds in the NFL Draft which made the Mr. Irrelevant moniker far more appropriate than it is in the 21st century. The Dolphins drafted Charlie Wade out of Tennessee State with the pick. In 1974, Wade had a great season for the Bears ranking ninth in the NFL with 683 receiving yards.
3. 2009: Kansas City Chiefs: Ryan Succop (2009-present)
If I were to rewrite this article in 2015, Ryan Succop may be the greatest Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft pick in history. After a fine career in the SEC spotlight for South Carolina, Succop was prepared to kick in pressure situations in the NFL. The 2009 NFL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant has been anything but irrelevant for the Chiefs. Through 2010, Succop has never missed an extra point in the NFL and he has made 82% of his field goal attempts.
2. 1994: New England Patriots: Marty Moore (1994-2001)
Remarkably, Mr. Irrelevant from the 1994 NFL Draft managed to play eight years in the NFL. The 1994 Mr. Irrelevant draft selection out of Kentucky played 112 games as a linebacker in the NFL. Marty Moore accumulated 110 solo tackles in the NFL and assisted on 36 others despite being a final draft selection. The '94 Mr. Irrelevant draft pick also intercepted three passes, had one quarterback sack, forced two fumbles and recovered one.
1. 2000: Chicago Bears: Michael Green (2000-08)
Michael Green was born in my home state of Louisiana and played collegiately here at Northwestern State. The 2000 NFL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant did not make an immediate impact in the Bears' defensive backfield. But in 2002, he started every game and made a whopping 100 solo tackles. Green intercepted four passes, recovered eight fumbles and made 340 solo tackles in the NFL. Michael Green is clearly the greatest Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft pick since the merger.
Honorable Mention Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft picks
1980: Tyrone McGriff, 1992: Matt Elliott, 2008: David Vobora(notes)
Sources:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8373141
The final pick of the NFL Draft has come to be known as Mr. Irrelevant. This is because, in theory, the Mr. Irrelevant draft pick is the least likely to become an NFL star. As a lifelong New Orleans Saints and NFL fan, I can certainly attest to the fact that this is usually the case. However, I have also seen a few Mr. Irrelevant draft picks have productive NFL careers. Take a closer look at the top five Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft picks since the merger.
5. 1999: Chicago Bears: Jim Finn (2000-06)
Jim Finn, 1999's Mr. Irrelevant draft pick, was selected by the Chicago Bears out of Penn. After being released by the Bears, the '99 final draft pick caught on with the Indianapolis Colts and saw limited NFL action in 2000. As a fullback, Finn was primarily used for blocking but occasionally ran pass routes. Mr. Irrelevant was very relevant for the New York Giants in 2005 when he started 13 games. In the NFL, Finn caught 60 passes and scored one touchdown.
4. 1973: Miami Dolphins: Charlie Wade (1974-77)
After going undefeated and winning the Super Bowl in 1972, the Dolphins earned the honor of receiving the Mr. Irrelevant 1973 draft pick. That year, there were still 17 rounds in the NFL Draft which made the Mr. Irrelevant moniker far more appropriate than it is in the 21st century. The Dolphins drafted Charlie Wade out of Tennessee State with the pick. In 1974, Wade had a great season for the Bears ranking ninth in the NFL with 683 receiving yards.
3. 2009: Kansas City Chiefs: Ryan Succop (2009-present)
If I were to rewrite this article in 2015, Ryan Succop may be the greatest Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft pick in history. After a fine career in the SEC spotlight for South Carolina, Succop was prepared to kick in pressure situations in the NFL. The 2009 NFL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant has been anything but irrelevant for the Chiefs. Through 2010, Succop has never missed an extra point in the NFL and he has made 82% of his field goal attempts.
2. 1994: New England Patriots: Marty Moore (1994-2001)
Remarkably, Mr. Irrelevant from the 1994 NFL Draft managed to play eight years in the NFL. The 1994 Mr. Irrelevant draft selection out of Kentucky played 112 games as a linebacker in the NFL. Marty Moore accumulated 110 solo tackles in the NFL and assisted on 36 others despite being a final draft selection. The '94 Mr. Irrelevant draft pick also intercepted three passes, had one quarterback sack, forced two fumbles and recovered one.
1. 2000: Chicago Bears: Michael Green (2000-08)
Michael Green was born in my home state of Louisiana and played collegiately here at Northwestern State. The 2000 NFL Draft's Mr. Irrelevant did not make an immediate impact in the Bears' defensive backfield. But in 2002, he started every game and made a whopping 100 solo tackles. Green intercepted four passes, recovered eight fumbles and made 340 solo tackles in the NFL. Michael Green is clearly the greatest Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft pick since the merger.
Honorable Mention Mr. Irrelevant NFL Draft picks
1980: Tyrone McGriff, 1992: Matt Elliott, 2008: David Vobora(notes)
Sources:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-8373141