Jets Country

New York Jets Make Jaylen Keys 'Mr. Irrelevant' with No. 257 Overall Pick

The New York Jets have made Jaylen Keys this year's 'Mr. Irrelevant' as they select him with the last pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Dylan Sanders

Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) runs against
Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) runs against / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

With the last pick of the 2024 NFL draft, the New York Jets have made Alabama safety Jaylen Key ‘Mr. Irrelevant.’

Key spent his first four seasons in college at UAB before transferring to Alabama for his final season.

He had 60 tackles in each his last two seasons and had a couple of interceptions to boot. His best path to making the final roster will likely be on the special teams unit while he develops as a defensive back.

New life has been breathed into the ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ moniker after the success of San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy. Obviously, no one should expect Key to become a Purdy-level player, but it may no longer be a death sentence for someone's career.

The Jets obviously entered this draft with a heavy focus on improving their offense -- including drafting two running backs. 

The first five selections were all offensive players before they went with their first defensive guy in Qwan'tez Stiggers out of the Canadaian Football League and now pairing him with the Alabama product.

Overall, it was a solid draft with a couple of players that will contribute right away. Now, they must hit the undrafted free agent market to find some hidden gems.

Published
Dylan Sanders

DYLAN SANDERS

Dylan Sanders graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree from the Manship School of Mass Communication in 2023. He was born in raised in Baton Rouge, LA but has also lived in Buffalo, NY. Though he is a recent graduate, he has been writing about sports since he was in high school, covering different sports from baseball to football. While in college, he wrote for the school paper The Reveille and for 247Sports. He was able cover championships in football, baseball and women's basketball during his time at LSU. He has also spent a few years covering the NFL draft and every day activities of the New Orleans Saints. He is a Senior Writer at Inside the Marlins and will also be found across Sports Illustrated's baseball sites as a contributing writer. You can follow him on Twitter or Instagram @dillysanders