Denver Broncos linebacker Khalil ‘Red’ Murdock earns the NFL’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ title after the team selected him with the 257th and final pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Broncos held the last two selections in the seventh round, first choosing Utah tight end Dallen Bentley at No. 256 before grabbing Murdock from Buffalo.
The Mr. Irrelevant Tradition
Since 1976, the final draft pick receives the ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ nickname, a tradition started by former wide receiver Paul Salata. Salata created ‘Irrelevant Week’ to celebrate overlooked players like himself who had brief NFL careers. While most Mr. Irrelevant picks struggle to stick in the league, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy defies the odds. Selected 262nd overall in 2022 after a solid Iowa State career, Purdy led the 49ers to the Super Bowl as a starter in his second season.
Murdock aims to follow Purdy’s path and show Denver uncovered a gem with the last pick.
Murdock’s Standout College Stats
The 22-year-old linebacker dominated at Buffalo. In his final season, he posted 142 tackles, five sacks, and six forced fumbles. His 2024 campaign featured a career-high 156 tackles and seven forced fumbles—the most by any player in a single NCAA season.
Over his college career, Murdock set the NCAA record with 17 forced fumbles, highlighting his disruptive playmaking ability.
Broncos Strengthen Elite Defense
As defending AFC West champions, the Broncos boast one of the league’s top units. Vance Joseph’s defense ranked second in yards allowed at 278.2 per game last season, trailing only the Houston Texans’ 277.2. They also led the NFL with 68 sacks.
Denver bolsters its linebacker group further by re-signing Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad before adding Murdock.
