Khalil 'Red' Murdock has taken the NFL's unwanted 'Mr. Irrelevant' tag after being selected by the Denver Broncos with the very last pick of the 2026 Draft. Denver had the final two selections in the seventh round, first using the 256th pick on Utah tight end Dallen Bentley, then opting for Buffalo linebacker Murdock with the 257th and final pick.
The Origin of 'Mr. Irrelevant'
The brutal nickname has been given to every final selection in the NFL Draft since 1976, when wide receiver Paul Salata founded 'Irrelevant Week' to shine a light on players who, like himself, enjoyed short and 'irrelevant' playing careers.
Most Mr. Irrelevant selections do not go on to have lucrative NFL careers, yet San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, the 2022 Draft's last pick, has proven an exception after becoming one of the NFL's best signal callers. Purdy was selected No. 262 overall by the 49ers two years ago and reached the Super Bowl as a starting quarterback in his second season.
Murdock's College Achievements
Murdock will hope to follow Purdy's lead and prove that Denver saved the best for last. The 22-year-old had 142 total tackles, five sacks, and six forced fumbles at Buffalo last season. He also recorded a career-high 156 total tackles and seven forced fumbles in 2024, the most ever by a player in a single season. Despite being the NFL's new Mr. Irrelevant, Murdock proved himself highly accomplished in college, setting the NCAA record for career forced fumbles with 17.
Broncos' Defensive Strength
The Broncos, defending AFC West champions, have bolstered their linebacker room despite possessing the second-best defense in the NFL last year. Vance Joseph's defense allowed just 278.2 yards per game, second only to the Houston Texans' 277.2 yards, while recording a league-high 68 sacks. Before drafting Murdock, Denver also made crucial moves at linebacker, re-signing Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad.
