In the final moments of the 2025 NFL Draft, with the football world leaning in, the New England Patriots made their last call. They picked Kobee Minor, a defensive back from the University of Memphis, as the 257th and final selection on April 26. That choice crowned Minor the year’s “Mr. Irrelevant,” a quirky title handed to the draft’s closing act—a nod to both obscurity and opportunity.
Minor’s journey to this moment wasn’t a straight shot. He started his college career at Texas Tech, grinding through three seasons from 2020 to 2022. Then he bounced to Indiana in 2023, sharpening his skills before landing at Memphis for his final year in 2024. At Memphis, he played in 12 games, racking up 27 tackles, three passes defended, and a pair of interceptions. His knack for reading plays and sticking to receivers caught scouts’ eyes, even if he wasn’t a headliner. The Patriots, looking to bolster their secondary, saw enough to take a chance on the 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback.
The “Mr. Irrelevant” tag, coined in 1976 by NFL Films, carries a peculiar weight. It’s not just a footnote; it’s a badge of resilience. Past recipients, like Brock Purdy in 2022, have turned the label into a springboard, proving late picks can outshine expectations. For Minor, it’s a chance to carve his name into a league that thrives on underdog stories. He’ll head to Foxborough, where New England’s coaching staff, known for molding raw talent, awaits.
Details on Minor’s next steps are sparse. He’s expected to join the Patriots’ rookie minicamp in May, competing for a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad. His college stats—54 tackles and three interceptions across three schools—paint a picture of a player who’s versatile but unpolished. Whether he cracks the lineup or fights for reps in preseason games, his work starts now.
The draft’s final pick always stirs a mix of cheers and curiosity. For Kobee Minor, it’s the first page of a new chapter—one that began in Memphis and now points to the NFL’s biggest stage.