With only seven picks in the recent draft, the Denver Broncos have worked hard to fill the areas that were lacking in their roster. One of the most exciting moves of the team was their last pick. With the 257th selection, they chose a linebacker from Buffalo named Khalil "Red" Murdock as their seventh-round pick.

What makes Murdock an interesting pick is that he has a special talent for knocking the ball loose. He broke Khalil Mack's college record for the most forced fumbles in history.

Murdock was a star during his four years playing for the Buffalo Bulls. He started 31 of the 42 games he played. By the time he finished, he had racked up 364 tackles and 17 forced fumbles.

He saved his best for last. In his final season, he started all 12 games and was a defensive machine, recording 142 tackles and 5 sacks. He was easily one of the most productive players on the team.

Picking Murdock made the most sense for the Denver Broncos because their projected starters for the 2026 season are Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad. 

Although experienced, Singleton is now 32 years old and sometimes has trouble defending against fast passes. On the other hand, Strnad has spent his career as a backup and has never been a full-time starter. 

Murdock could be exactly what the team needs to stabilize that group. He is a strong tackler who can rush the quarterback or help out in pass coverage when needed. 

As the last person chosen during the draft, he was dubbed the "Mr. Irrelevant" of this season. However, his ability to create turnovers and tackle well makes him much more than just a depth player. 

GM George Paton Shares His Honest Take On Getting Mr Irrelevant

Denver Broncos General Manager George Paton explained why the team chose linebacker Red Murdock as the very last pick of the NFL draft. Even though the Broncos signed many other free agents, Paton felt Murdock was too talented to pass up.

He believes Murdock has the perfect personality to fit in with the rest of the team. The main reason the Broncos liked him was his aggressive playing style and his ability to stop the opponent's ground game. 

"Murdock, just man, he’s a tackling machine. Just really instinctive. Really good against the run." Paton said.

Murdock is more talented than people realize. During his time playing college football at Buffalo, he became famous for hitting runners hard and forcing them to drop the ball.

He has enough speed to keep up with the pros and a natural talent for creating turnovers, which is exactly what Denver needs on defense. 

Murdock actually has a great chance of making the final roster. The team already has starters like Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad, but because other players are switching positions, there is an open spot for a new linebacker. 

Red Murdock will have to compete with a few other young players, but his status as a drafted player gives him a head start in the race to stay with the team.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit