The New York Jets had the distinction of taking “Mr. Irrelevant” at the end of the 2024 NFL Draft this year, and they opted to go with former Alabama safety Jaylen Key. As the No. 257 overall and final pick of the draft, he earned the title of Mr. Irrelevant. Shortly after he was selected, his rookie contract details were released on the Spotrac website.
His contract is worth four years, $4.100 million. And it includes a signing bonus of $80,732.
Key transferred to Alabama for his final season after spending five years at UAB. He transferred after posting 60 tackles with one sack, two forced fumbles and three interceptions in 2022 for the Blazers. He played often but contributed sparingly in the seasons prior to 2022, however, his junior season performance made him an attractive addition for the Crimson Tide. Key became a starter in the secondary for the Tide in his first year.
In 2023, he had 60 tackles with 35 solo tackles. He also posted an interception, which came in the team’s season opener against MTSU. Key missed the Kentucky and Chattanooga matchups with a lower-body injury. He ended up notching four tackles in the Tide’s Rose Bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines in overtime.
As a member of the Class of 2018, Key was a three-star recruit out of Amos P. Godby (FL) High School, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 297 overall prospect in the state of Florida and the No. 163 safety in the nation.
What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Jaylen Key
As far as what he’ll look like in the NFL, NFL.com‘s Lance Zierlein believes he has a future as a contributor.
“UAB transfer who started the full 2023 season for the Tide. Key has the size and play strength of an NFL safety but is not as active or consistent as he needs to be as a run defender,” Zierlein writes. “He’s a decent athlete and can cover straight-line routes but doesn’t play with enough route anticipation or make-up burst to contest many catches. Key’s physical traits work in his favor, but he needs to have a definable play trait as either a run defender or in coverage, and that seems to be missing.”
On3’s Nikki Chavanelle also contributed to this article.
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