Red Murdock is 'Mr. Irrelevant' as LB goes last in NFL draft - ESPN

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — For newly minted Denver Broncos linebacker Red Murdock, it was highly relevant he is now this draft's «Mr. Irrelevant.»

Murdock, the 257th and final pick of the 2026 NFL draft, said Saturday he didn't know much about the annual festival that comes with being the final selection, but he's happy to be a part of it because it meant the Broncos had called his name just before the draft ended.

«I know a little bit about Mr. Irrelevant, but the main thing is I got an opportunity and to make the most out of it and help us win,'' Murdock said. „[But] it was a pretty emotional moment, trying to hold it in front of the family and everything. I was just really excited to get an opportunity… the Broncos, man, I'm just really excited to play for the Broncos, that's a great team… it's playing out perfectly.“

The Broncos became the first team in the common draft era (since 1967) to hold the final two picks of a draft. Saturday, with three picks in the seventh round, they selected Utah tight end Dallen Bentley at No. 256 and then Murdock.

Broncos coach Sean Payton joked Bentley was now „vice president'' for the Irrelevant Week festival in Newport Beach, California, and general manager George Paton said the team was told both Murdock and Bentley would be flown out for the festival in the coming weeks.

“It was unique, I think we said it during the draft, [for] the rest of your career no one in this draft room will be part of a draft where you have the last two picks of the draft,» Payton said. "… There was eight minutes where you were kind of controlling everything."

Both Payton and Paton said the Broncos received trade offers for the final pick as the seventh round progressed and teams raced to sign potential undrafted