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Patriots forced to delete controversial Mr. Irrelevant post after NFL Draft

Kobee Minor, the final pick of the NFL Draft, became embroiled in controversy after the Patriots' X post linked his name to Kendrick Lamar's diss of Drake.

Updated on: Apr 29, 2025, 08:04:30 IST
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The New England Patriots had a bit of an awkward moment during the final moments of this year’s NFL Draft. After using the very last pick—No. 257 overall—to select cornerback Kobee Minor out of Memphis, the team celebrated the moment online with a post that quickly stirred up controversy.

Melanie Salata Fitch, right, announces Memphis' Kobee Minor as the final pick by New England Patriots the during the third day of the NFL football draft, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) (AP)
Melanie Salata Fitch, right, announces Memphis' Kobee Minor as the final pick by New England Patriots the during the third day of the NFL football draft, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke) (AP)

The Patriots' official X (formerly Twitter) account shared a graphic of Minor along with the caption, “A Minorrrrrrrrrrrr.”

Fans recognized a play on rookie Kobee Minor's name as a reference to Kendrick Lamar's diss track targeting Drake, who is suing Universal Music Group for defamation over it. (X/New England Patriots)
Fans recognized a play on rookie Kobee Minor's name as a reference to Kendrick Lamar's diss track targeting Drake, who is suing Universal Music Group for defamation over it. (X/New England Patriots)

So at first glance, it seemed like a fun play on the rookie’s last name. But eagle-eyed fans immediately recognised it from Kendrick Lamar’s fiery diss track ‘Not Like Us,’ which targets rapper Drake and includes heavy accusations, including calling him a pedophile.

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Lamar vs Drake woes Patriots' Mr. Irrelevant post

Drake has sued Universal Music Group for defamation over the track, and Lamar’s controversial performance at the Super Bowl, where he included the “minor” line, has only added fuel to the fire. Also, Drake recently updated his lawsuit to include that performance, alleging it was also defamatory.

“Tryna strike a chord, and it’s probably a minor,” Lamar performed it in front of a packed stadium and millions watching at home. However, he skipped the even more explosive lyric that directly calls Drake a “certified pedophile.”

Universal Music Group, defending itself against Drake’s claims, said, “Plaintiff, one of the most successful recording artists of all time, lost a rap battle that he provoked and in which he willingly participated.”

“Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he often claims to be, he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds.”

Who is Kobee Minor?

Kobee Minor, the player unintentionally caught in the middle of the drama, will be hoping to make a name for himself on the Patriots’ roster. Minor had a five-year college career that included stints at Texas Tech, Indiana, and Memphis, steadily building a reputation as a tough and reliable cornerback.

“I love it because I've never been a highly recruited guy,” Minor said after getting picked. “I've never been one of the top guys. So, really this isn't anything new to me.”

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It’s no secret that being the NFL’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ — that’s the description given to the final pick of the draft — isn’t easy, but it has its upsides. You see Brock Purdy, the 2022 ‘Mr. Irrelevant, who went on to be the starter for the San Francisco 49ers and take them to the Super Bowl.

  • Tuhin Das Mahapatra
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    Tuhin Das Mahapatra

    Tuhin Das Mahapatra is a key member of the US Team at Hindustan Times, crafting compelling narratives on politics, US visa, Hollywood, esports, anime, and beyond. This erudite literature student, if not penning down a narrative with his modest yet trusty pen, is deeply contemplating 'what the purpose of journalism is?Read More

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