Kansas City Chiefs to Choose Last in 2025 NFL Draft—Here’s Why That Matters

OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.

The Kansas City Chiefs are set to make an intriguing splash at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While they will likely pick last, with the 257th overall selection, this position is more than just a footnote in draft history—it’s the coveted “Mr. Irrelevant” pick.

In an event that has become a long-standing tradition, the last player selected in the NFL Draft is given the title of “Mr. Irrelevant.” This player, chosen at the 257th pick this year, will be celebrated in a weeklong ceremony in Newport Beach, California, established by former NFL player Paul Salata in 1976 to honor football’s underdogs. While many Mr. Irrelevant picks don’t make an immediate impact, the tradition has seen some notable exceptions—making the Chiefs’ latest pick one to watch.

For the Chiefs, this will be the first time in over a decade that they have been involved in the Mr. Irrelevant tradition. The last time they made this selection was in 2009 when they chose kicker Ryan Succop with the 256th pick. Succop went on to have an impressive 14-year career in the NFL, even earning a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020-21 season. Succop’s success is a reminder that the final pick can sometimes defy expectations.

The title of Mr. Irrelevant can even be a launching pad for greatness, as seen with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Chosen as the 262nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy made history by leading the 49ers to a Super Bowl in just his second season, cementing his status as one of the most successful Mr. Irrelevant selections.

The Chiefs were awarded two compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on Tuesday. Compensatory picks are handed out when a team loses more or better free agents than it acquires during the previous year’s free agency period. In this case, Kansas City lost offensive lineman Nick Allegretti, linebacker Willie Gay, and punter Tommy Townsend while acquiring receiver Hollywood Brown.

Despite their late pick, the Chiefs are far from an underdog team. With a stacked roster and a history of drafting well, their seven picks in the 2025 draft, including the first-round selection at No. 31, are expected to significantly impact their future. However, the 257th pick holds a unique appeal for fans and NFL enthusiasts alike, especially given the team’s history with Succop.

Though the Chiefs may ultimately trade this final pick, their involvement in the Mr. Irrelevant tradition, especially after a 14-year gap, is worth noting. For now, the focus remains on the other picks Kansas City will make in the draft, but the 257th selection promises to bring its own excitement to the table, as the underdog title takes on new meaning in the NFL.

Kansas City’s draft haul now stands at eight picks in total: