Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock became the 2026 “Mr. Irrelevant” when the Denver Broncos used the 257th and final pick of the NFL Draft on him, a surprising but neat cap to draft weekend. This piece looks at who Murdock is, why the Broncos might have chosen him, the history behind the title “Mr. Irrelevant”, and what to watch as he tries to stick in a crowded NFL world.
Buffalo linebacker Red Murdock is the 2026 “Mr. Irrelevant” after the Denver Broncos selected him with the 257th and final pick of the NFL Draft. That single line changes a lot for a young player who spent his college career carving out a role on special teams and in rotational defense. The tag brings attention, and attention brings opportunity, even if it also brings a spotlight on every mistake.
Murdock’s tape shows a player who gets after the ball and competes on every snap. At Buffalo he lined up across multiple fronts and showed enough hustle and tackling technique to stay on the field late into games. Scouts noticed his motor and instincts more than flashy measurables, which is often the path for late-round and undrafted players who end up sticking in the league.
The title “Mr. Irrelevant” has always been a quirky NFL tradition reserved for the final draft pick, mixing humor with a chance to celebrate someone the rest of draft weekend forgot. It comes with some perks and public attention, ranging from a lighthearted roast to invites that make it harder for the pick to slip under the radar. For players like Murdock, that attention can be leveraged into practice reps, community goodwill, and a platform to prove doubters wrong.
From Denver’s perspective, taking a linebacker this late usually signals special teams upside and developmental upside rather than an immediate starting role. The Broncos saw enough traits in Murdock—tackling consistency, effort, and positional flexibility—to warrant a flier at the roster’s tail end. In training camp he will face the same reality as every late pick: earn snaps through play on kickoff and punt units and show coaches he can be relied upon when injuries pile up.
The challenge now is simple and brutal: convert college promise into pro reliability. Murdock will need to sharpen his recognition against pro-level schemes and prove he can take on blocks without getting washed out of plays. If he can consistently win one-on-one matchups on special teams and show steady improvement in run fits, he has a legitimate shot to make the 53-man roster or at least stick on a practice squad.
Being the last pick does not preclude success; history has examples of late selections who carved long NFL careers by embracing a role and improving week to week. The trick for Murdock will be avoiding gimmicks and focusing on fundamentals that coaches can trust. That means disciplined angles, consistent tackling, and a willingness to do the dirty work most fans do not see on stat sheets.
For Buffalo fans and neutral observers alike, Murdock’s selection is a reminder of how many paths there are to a pro career. The draft is as much about scouting potential as it is about fitting specific schemes, and sometimes the best picks are the ones that grow slowly and quietly. As camp opens, the eyes that once saw a last pick as a curiosity will be the same eyes that decide whether he deserves a permanent spot on game day rosters.
What to watch first is straightforward: special teams snaps, tackling numbers in preseason action, and how quickly he adapts to the speed of NFL practice sessions. Those early indicators will shape his role for the season and determine whether the Broncos turned the final pick into depth or a developmental project. The road ahead is narrow, but the opportunity is real, and that is the kind of challenge many players relish.
