Thanks to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, the title of Mr. Irrelevant has taken on more relevancy as the unheralded yet heralded final pick of the NFL Draft.
Purdy, the final pick in 2022, became a Super Bowl quarterback for the 49ers in just two seasons. This year’s Mr. Irrelevant, cornerback Kobee Minor, joins the team that has reached more Super Bowls than any franchise.
The New England Patriots selected the former Memphis standout with the 275th and final selection of the draft on Saturday in Green Bay. Minor played for three different programs between 2020 and 2024 as he tallied 80 tackles, two forced fumbles, two sacks, and 12 pass deflections.
Yes, a cornerback without a collegiate interception is an NFL draft pick. The rarity of that is arguably on par with Purdy going from Mr. Irrelevant to Super Bowl starter.
For Minor, he fully embraces the Mr. Irrelevant title already. He also admitted he hasn’t ever been “a highly recruited guy” before.
Minor became a three-star recruit at Lake Dallas High School in Texas, and he joined Texas Tech in 2020 where he mostly played special teams for three seasons. Looking for more playing time, he entered the transfer portal in 2023 and joined Indiana when Tom Allen coached the Hoosiers that year.
“When I came into college, I was a safety, and then my defensive coordinator at Texas Tech asked if I ever played corner,” Minor said. “I’ve always played anywhere in the back end, so I’m familiar with a lot of the spots, and I know how to play each and every one of the spots. I feel like back there, that’s what makes me versatile. For the most part, I played corner in college.”
Minor tallied 20 tackles and four pass deflections in 11 games that season when the Hooisers went 3–9 that year. Since Indiana didn’t keep Allen and his staff, Minor opted to transfer again and joined Memphis.
With the Tigers, Minor garnered two sacks, six pass deflections, and 29 tackles, which included seven for losses. Minor also got to play in the Frisco Bowl for the Tigers, which finished 11–2.
“At Memphis, we had a package for me to come in at nickel, but we never got to run it,” Minor said. “So, I’m familiar with nickel too. Wherever you need me in the back end, I fill that spot.”
While Minor’s numbers don’t jump off the page, believes his versatility will make a difference for the Patriots. That’s notably the only team he visited during the pre-draft process.
“I would say I tackle very well. I'll come up and run support. I feel like I’m a technician,” Minor said. “I can play man coverage. I feel like I’m versatile in the back end. I can play whatever defensive back position or help out on special teams, whatever I need to do to get the win, or do whatever I can to help the team out.”
Minor said he talked with Patriots scouts at the Memphis Pro Day and later visited the organization in Foxboro, Massachusetts. He said it had “that family feel,” and he said he’s ready to “put my head down and grind” for the Patriots.
New England executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf likes what he sees in Minor. The Patriots notably traded the No. 228 pick with the Kansas City Chiefs for No. 251 and No. 257.
