The Denver Broncos may have just found a diamond in the rough with their final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With only seven selections this year, the team focused on filling key needs—including grabbing two tight ends—but it was their last choice that could end up being their most impactful.

In the seventh round, with the 257th overall pick—the very last selection of the entire draft—the Broncos took Buffalo linebacker Khalil "Red" Murdock. While he enters the league as this year's "Mr. Irrelevant," his college résumé suggests he's anything but.

Murdock holds the NCAA all-time record for forced fumbles, breaking a mark previously held by NFL star Khalil Mack. That kind of disruptive ability is exactly what a Broncos linebacker room in transition needs. Denver parted ways with Dre Greenlaw this offseason, leaving Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad as the projected starters at inside linebacker. Singleton, now 32, has struggled in pass coverage, while Strnad has yet to prove himself as a full-time starter after spending most of his career as a reliable backup.

The depth behind them is thin. The Broncos plan to experiment with moving Jonah Elliss inside, and they'll also evaluate undrafted players Levelle Bailey, Karene Reid, and Jordan Turner. That's a group with plenty of potential but just as many question marks.

Murdock brings a patient, calculated style to the position. He excels at making plays near the line of scrimmage and could be an effective run-stopper right away. He's also a strong tackler who offers value as a blitzer up the middle and has shown enough in pass coverage to keep offenses honest.

Many Broncos fans wanted the team to address the inside linebacker position earlier in the draft, but a run on the position in the second round forced Denver to pivot. If Murdock develops into a contributor, that late-round gamble could pay off in a big way for a defense in need of reliable depth.