2024 NFL Draft: New York Jets select Alabama DB Jaylen Key
Alabama senior defensive back Jaylen Key was selected with the 257th and final pick (Round 7) in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New York Jets on Saturday. Key was the 10th Crimson Tide player taken in this year’s draft and the sixth Alabama senior to come off the board.
As the final pick on Saturday, Key is the Mr. Irrelevant for the 2024 NFL Draft. He is only the second-ever Alabama player to be the last selection, joining Ramzee Robinson in 2007.
Key joined the Crimson Tide program last summer after five years at UAB. The transfer portal addition played in and started 12 games at the safety position during Alabama’s 2023 season, missing the Kentucky and Chattanooga contests because of a lower-body injury. Key recorded 60 total tackles this past year, including 1.5 for loss, and he also broke up one pass and tallied one interception with a return of 13 yards in his lone season in Tuscaloosa.
Before Alabama, Key spent his first five seasons of college in Birmingham, Alabama at UAB. He appeared in 43 games for the Blazers and registered 74 total tackles, 3.5 for loss and one sack. He also contributed two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, five pass breakups and three interceptions during his time at UA, which saw him have a breakout season at safety for the Blazers in 2022, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference USA recognition.
Alabama players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft
Round 1, Pick 7 – JC Latham, OT – Tennessee Titans
Round 1, Pick 17 – Dallas Turner, Edge – Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick 24 – Terrion Arnold, CB – Detroit Lions
Round 2, Pick 41 – Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB – New Orleans Saints
Round 2, Pick 57 – Chris Braswell, Edge – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 3, Pick 80 – Jermaine Burton, WR – Cincinnati Bengals
Round 4, Pick 105 – Justin Eboigbe, DL – Los Angeles Chargers
Round 6, Pick 186 – Jase McClellan, RB – Atlanta Falcons
Round 6, Pick 203 – Will Reichard, PK – Minnesota Vikings
Round 7, Pick 257 – Jaylen Key, S – New York Jets
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