The New York Jets surprisingly release safety Jaylen Key, the last pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Key played the most defensive snaps in the preseason.
He came to the NFL the same way as Brock Purdy – but it seems that this is not going to be a fairytale: The New York Jets signed safety Jaylen Key on Tuesday, the last player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Key is the first “Mr. Irrelevant” since 2019 to be cut from the squad before the first game day – and that’s not the only reason why the Jets’ decision comes as a bit of a surprise.
Mr. Irrelevant doesn’t get a chance
Key, who played his final year of college at Alabama, played the most defensive snaps (123) of any Jets player during the preseason and recorded 11 tackles. However, he is now one of 34 players released by the Jets to trim the roster to the required 53 players.
The Jets decided to keep four position mates on the roster: starters Tony Adams and Chuck Clark, as well as Ashtyn Davis and Isaiah Oliver. While there is reportedly interest in adding Key to the practice squad, he was not spotted on the practice field on Tuesday – a potentially bad sign.
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On draft night, Key was still optimistic and took his role as “Mr. Irrelevant” in his stride: “I’m definitely going to enjoy every second of it. I’m Mr. Irrelevant this year, and we’re definitely going to make a difference.”
The last “Mr. Irrelevant” to be released so early was tight end Caleb Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. Wilson, who came out of UCLA with the 254th pick, was signed to the Cardinals’ practice squad two days later. He never played a game for the Cardinals, but managed to play five games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020.
Things went better for Purdy, the “Mr. Irrelevant” of 2022, who made it to the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers this year – and is the Jets’ first opponent this season with the 49ers.
