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TEMPE, Arizona – Caleb Wilson was watching the NFL draft on television Saturday afternoon when the show began to explain Mr. Irrelevant – the last draft choice – and all that goes with that distinction.
UCLA did not know much about this honor, but he was already nervous. It had not been chosen yet when the Cardinals of Arizona were going to play the 254th and last choice.
Moments later, Wilson's name was called.
"That was a bit scary in the end, but once this issue of Arizona appeared on my phone, I was definitely relieved," Wilson said. "It was a little shaky at the end of the last choice."
After being selected last, Wilson will be honored with a trip to Newport Beach, California, for the Irrelevant Week from June 28 to July 2. The original idea of former NFL player Paul Salata, Irrelevant Week, will include the Lowsman Banquet at Balboa Bay Resort. Wilson will receive the 44th Lowsman Trophy, which features a player fumbling for a football.
"I'm just kissing him," Wilson said at a conference call after being selected. "All I needed was to get called and grab my opportunity, it's a dream for the youth to be in the NFL draft, so just see my name appear at the screen and the happiness on the face of my family.
"I just kissed it all – it's an honor, to be honest."
Wilson was a second American star team at UCLA and led the Bruins last season in receptions (60) and receiving yards (965). He also led all of Canada's tight ends for receiving yards, receptions per game (5.0) and receiving yards per game (80.4).
Wilson was transferred to UCLA after a season at USC in 2015, when his father, Chris Wilson, a two-time All-American in Oklahoma and a choice in 1992, was an assistant coach of the Trojans. Chris Wilson is now the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line and Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said he knew it well.
"Really loved his character, his intangible assets, what he brings to the table on and off the pitch," said Keim about Caleb Wilson.
Wilson said that he had tried not to pay too much attention to the drafts that surrounded him, but in the sixth and seventh rounds he began to hear that Arizona was interested.
Then he had the call.
Keim called on Wilson M. Irrelevant to do "something special".
"I think it's almost like the American," Keim said. "It's like you have an opportunity just because you're the last choice in the draft, no matter where you're chosen.
"We all have a chance to do great things – we all know where the guy who was the most valuable Super Bowl player was chosen, so, again, that makes our job fun."
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