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

Englewood, Colo. – For Newly Built denver broncos linebacker red murdockIt was highly relevant that he is now the “Mr. Irrelevant” of this draft.

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

Murdock said, “I know a little bit about Mr. Irrelevant, but the main thing is that I got an opportunity and I made the most of it and helped us win.”[But] It was quite an emotional moment, trying to put it before the family and everything. I was really excited to get an opportunity…Broncos, man, I’m really excited to play for the Broncos. This is a great team… it’s playing great.”

The Broncos became the first team in the Common Draft era (since 1967) to hold the final two selections of the draft. On Saturday, with three picks in the seventh round, they selected Utah tight end dallen bentley At number 256 and then Murdock.

Broncos coach Sean Payton joked that Bentley is now “vice president” for the Irrelevant Week festivities in Newport Beach, California, and general manager George Payton said the team was told that both Murdock and Bentley would be flown out for the festivities in the coming weeks.

“It was unique, I think we said it during the draft, [for] There’s no way you’re going to be in this draft room for the rest of your career, where you have the last two picks of the draft,” Payton said. “… There were eight minutes where you were kind of controlling everything.”

Both Payton and Payton said that as the seventh round progressed, the Broncos received trade offers for the final selection and teams rushed to sign potential undrafted free agents.

“It was a hot pick,” Patton said.

Murdock, who set the FBS record with 17 forced fumbles in his career at Buffalo, said he thought he might go undrafted as early as the seventh round, but was “just trying to keep my mind off things I can’t control. When I got that call, I was very grateful.”

In three seasons as a starter in Buffalo, Murdock recorded 60, 156 and 142 tackles, respectively, and he finished his career with 39.5 tackles for loss. “I’m cautious in intent, I’m kind of obsessed with it,” Murdock said of his record forced fumble.

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

Murdock is the second Mr. Irrelevant chosen by the Broncos since the charitable festival began in 1976, when former player Paul Salata wanted to celebrate the underdog’s last choice. Broncos select Memphis quarterback chad kelly With the final selection of the 2017 draft. Kelly appeared in one game (kneeling) for one game in 2018 and was released later that season.

san francisco 49ers quarterback brock purdyThe 2023 Pro Bowl selection, with 45 career starts, is the most successful Mr. Irrelevant since the festival began. rioter Ryan SuccopA Super Bowl LV with winner tampa bay buccaneersWas 2009’s Mr. Irrelevant.