The Denver Broncos newest linebacker may have a cheeky nickname, but he's a tough player who set a defensive record.
The Denver Broncos announced the signing of linebacker Red Murdoch, aka “Mr. Irrelevant,” according to a report by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk via Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado.
Murdock is the first of Denver’s draft picks to sign, Williams added, and he’ll get a surprisingly lucrative deal for a seventh-round selection. The terms are for four years, $4.5 million, with a signing bonus of $122,000.
The linebacker is a surprisingly strong player despite his tongue-in-cheek title, which is likely why the Broncos ponied up to keep him around for a while. Murdock earned second-team All-America honors at the University at Buffalo last year, and he set an FBS record with 17 career forced fumbles and a total of 298 tackles in his final two collegiate seasons.
Murdock is undersized, though, so he’ll face plenty of competition to get snaps in the NFL. The Broncos do have an opening at linebacker with Jonah Elliss moving inside to provide youth and depth, but Denver will also be a candidate for a late-summer signing at linebacker, according to multiple reports.
Most of the other signings should be boilerplate at this point. The Broncos didn’t make a selection in the first or second round, but they did add defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim in the third round, running back Jonah Coleman and offensive lineman Kage Casey in the fourth, tight end Justin Joly in the fifth round, and safety Miles Scott, tight end Dallen Bentley and Murdock in the seventh.
Bentley will join Murdock for the annual Mr. Irrelevant ceremony in June, as the Broncos have announced that they will be flying both players out to California to participate. Given the terms of Murdock’s deal, though, it would be surprising if he doesn’t make the roster.
The Broncos had a quiet draft, as they devoted most of their resources to retaining existing players, and they’ll go into camp with few spots open. The big competition is expected to happen at tight end, where Joly and Bentley will join a crowed position room that includes multiple blocking tight ends.
Joly is the leader in the clubhouse to replace Evan Engram, who underperformed last year after signing a lucrative free-agent deal. Just $5 million of Engram’s $10 million salary is guaranteed, and he’s a strong candidate to become a cap cut if Joly or Bentley show they can handle the job.
The Broncos could also bring in another veteran tight end to put more heat on Engram as they try to come up with a receiving tight end who can live up to the exacting standards of coach Sean Payton in that role.