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Redskins: Comparing Trey Quinn to other successful Mr. Irrelevant’s

By Jacob Camenker

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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 13: David Vobora #58 of the St. Louis Rams looks on the field during the game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 13, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 28-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 13: David Vobora #58 of the St. Louis Rams looks on the field during the game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 13, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 28-0. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

St. Louis Rams. David Vobora. 5. player. 51. . Linebacker

David Vobora is the most recent example of a successful Mr. Irrelevant. During the 2008 NFL Draft, the then St. Louis Rams made Vobora the final pick. The Idaho product did enough to earn a start during his first season with the team and then proceeded to do something that hadn’t been done in a long time by a Mr. Irrelevant.

In 2009, Vobora was one of the Rams’ primary starters at the linebacker position. Playing with James Laurinaitis and Paris Lenon, Vobora started 10 of the 12 games he played in during the 2009 campaign. Much was made of the fact that he had earned the starting job, given the seemingly universal obsession regarding Mr. Irrelevant.

Unfortunately, Vobora was dealt a four-game PED suspension as he took a supplement that had a banned substance in it. However, the banned substance wasn’t listed among the ingredients, so Vobora sued the company and won. Still, he had to miss those four games during his lone season as the starter, and that hurt him.

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In his season as a primary starter, Vobora posted a respectable stat line. He recorded 43 tackles and forced a fumble, and he showed that he could get by as a starter. However, the Rams elected to move him into a backup role the next season, but he did play in 14 games and made five starts. Despite this, Vobora was released by the Rams during the 2011 preseason.

Vobora tried to latch on with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2011 season, but he spent the year on and off their roster. He was active for six games but didn’t log a single stat. After that, Vobora’s career was over.

Though the end of Vobora’s career was disappointing, he still started for almost a full season and carved out a role in the following year as well. Regardless, getting any starting action from a seventh rounder is great, so Vobora deserves praise for what he was able to accomplish.

Quinn could have a similar career path to Vobora. While he may not be ready for a big role this year, the Redskins could opt to use him as a starter in 2019 depending on what Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder do this season. If Quinn works hard and keeps his options open, he should be in good shape to make an impact early in his career, just like Vobora did.

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