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Chad Kelly Could Be The First Relevant “Mr. Irrelevant”

By Erik Lambert

Oct 29, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) warms up prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) warms up prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 29, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) warms up prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) warms up prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

They’re not calling Chad Kelly “Mr. Irrelevant” by accident. In general it means a player that will be forgotten days after the draft ends.

For the most part dating back to 1976 when the name was first introduced, that has been the case. Players taken at that spot have either not lasting very long in the league or led journeyman careers with multiple teams. Amazingly the only one to stand out in any capacity to this point is kick Ryan Succop who has led productive runs first in Kansas City and now in Tennessee. Other than that its been a parade of “meh.”

That could be about to change with Kelly. All things being equal, he might be the most talented Mr. Irrelevant in NFL draft history. Nephew of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, he was a top quarterback in SEC who could light up defenses with his rocket right arm. Now he’s the final pick of the 2017 draft for the Denver Broncos.

https://twitter.com/ckelly_10/status/839355904919285760

Kelly was considered a 1st round talent by most evaluators last season. Unfortunately a combination of injuries and constant off-the-field problems led to his stock dropping. People just aren’t sure if he can ever get over his maturity issues. He’s had confrontations with coaches, got into fights with bouncers and stormed a high school football field because his brother took a late hit. He just can’t seem to control himself, on or off the field.

When he’s on though, he is fun to watch. To date he’s the only quarterback in the SEC to beat Nick Saban and Alabama twice in his college career. That is saying something about his ability in big games and his competitiveness. There is no doubt he’s every bit as gifted as Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemien. Perhaps more so. If Denver coaches can somehow harness his wild buck personality, they might be the first franchise to ever hit a home run on the last pick of the draft.

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