The Patriots on Saturday did something the franchise hadn’t done in two decades.

New England closed the book on the 2025 NFL Draft by making the very last pick of the seven-round event in Green Bay. Mike Vrabel and company capped their 11-player draft haul by selecting Kobee Minor, a cornerback out of Memphis.

While waiting until the final seconds of the draft to hear your name called isn’t ideal, Minor embraced the way he slid down the board.

“To me, I love it because I’ve never been a highly recruited guy,” Minor told reporters, per a team-provided transcript. “I’ve never been one of the top guys. So, really this isn’t anything new to me. I’m going to just go out here and do what I got to do, put my head down and grind, like I’ve always have.”

Of course, the last pick of the NFL draft receives the not-so-flattering label of “Mr. Irrelevant.” But Minor, who clearly carries himself with a chip on his shoulder, doesn’t mind the moniker.

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“I love it, actually,” Minor told reporters. “It’s just fuel to my fire. I’m going to just continue to work and I’m excited for this opportunity.”

Foxboro, Mass., historically has been a place where late-round selections — as well as undrafted free agents — have made names for themselves despite arriving in New England with no fanfare. There’s no doubt Minor will join the Patriots motivated to join that list.

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Featured image via Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY Network