Red Murdock is ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ as LB goes last in NFL draft

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For new Denver Broncos linebacker Red Murdock, it was very fitting that he was now this draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant.”

Murdock, the 257th and final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, said Saturday he didn’t know much about the annual festival that celebrates the final selection, but he’s happy to be a part of it because it meant the Broncos called his name right before the draft ended.

“I know Mr. Irrelevant a little bit, but the bottom line is I got an opportunity and I’m making the most of it and helping us win,” Murdock said.[But] it was quite an emotional moment, trying to hold it in front of the family and everything. I was just really excited to have an opportunity…the Broncos, man, I’m just really excited to play for the Broncos. It’s a great team… they play perfectly.”

The Broncos became the first team in the joint draft era (since 1967) to hold the final two picks in a draft. On Saturday, with three picks in the seventh round, they selected Utah tight end Dallen Bentley at 256th overall, then Murdock.

Broncos coach Sean Payton joked that Bentley was now “vice president” of the Irrelevant Week festival in Newport Beach, Calif., and general manager George Paton said the team had been informed that Murdock and Bentley would be flown to the festival in the coming weeks.

“It was unique, I think we said it in the draft, [for] “For the rest of your career, no one in this draft room is going to be in a draft where you have the last two picks in the draft,” Payton said. “…There were eight minutes where you kind of controlled everything.”

Payton and Paton said the Broncos received trade offers for the final pick as the seventh round progressed and teams rushed to sign potential undrafted free agents.

“It was a hot choice,” Paton said.

Murdock, who set an FBS record with 17 forced fumbles during his career in Buffalo, said he considered he might go undrafted in the seventh round, but “he was just trying not to think about things I can’t control. When I got that call, I was extremely grateful.”

In three seasons as a starter in Buffalo, Murdock had 60, 156 and 142 tackles, respectively, and he finished his career with 39.5 tackles for loss. Of his forced fumbles record, Murdock said, “I’m meticulous in my intentions, I’m kind of obsessed with it.”

“Man, he’s a tackling machine,” Paton said. “Really instinctive, really good against the run…but this guy, oh my God, if you look at his career and all the forced fumbles he’s had, just a nose for the ball, relentless motor.”

Murdock is the second Mr. Irrelevant the Broncos have selected since the charity fest began in 1976, when former player Paul Salata wanted to celebrate the underdog’s latest pick. The Broncos selected Memphis quarterback Chad Kelly with the final pick in the 2017 draft. Kelly appeared in a play-for-play (kneeling) in 2018 and was released later that season.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, a 2023 Pro Bowl selection with 45 career starts, is the most successful Mr. Irrelevant since the festival began. Kicker Ryan Succop, a Super Bowl LV winner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was the 2009 Mr. Irrelevant.