2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Buffalo LB Red Murdock

All my scouting notes on the strengths, concerns, usage/role, skill set summary, NFL comparison and grade/projection for Buffalo LB Red Murdock

Buffalo LB Red Murdock

• #2
• 6-1, 236, 31 1/8-inch arms
• 6/21/05 (21-year old rookie)
• 2,196 snaps/39.5 TFL/9 sacks/1 INT/3 PBUs/17 FFs (all-time college record)

Scouting Notes

Thumper who doesn’t provide nearly enough thump. Labeled as a box maven and hard-nosed run defender, Murdock stepped into contact too lightly for my liking, often getting knocked off balance or pinned down between the tackles. Slow out of his stance, even hopping forward, which limits the pop he has into blocks. Didn’t win many of those collisions. When Murdock is kept clean, has a clear lane to the ball or is blitzed at the snap, that’s when he does his best work.

Athleticism is bottom tier for the position. Change-of-direction is labored, feet are heavy, hips are tight, long speed is limited. One speed guy who takes too long to get home as a rusher. Limitations in coverage were pretty obvious, tried to get up and combat throws in his zone and had no range. Barely touched the football in coverage during his college career. Lacks the snap explosiveness to close underneath quickly or make plays to the perimeter. Big hitch out of his drop before he closes to the ball.

Lots of communication and seemed to process ok. Disciplined player who is under control and won’t get caught cheating his assignment. I don’t think the mental part of the game will be a massive struggle for Murdock, you just wish he saw and attacked with more consistency. His best game of the season was in Week 1 against Minnesota, but he disappointingly didn’t build from that game at all.

The best thing about Murdock is that he is a punch-out artist who forced fumbles better than anyone in college football history. How do you value that if the guy is going to be at least limited in every aspect of his position against NFL competition. That’s tough to say. The Combine is going to be critical for Murdock, who needs to prove he can move at pro levels and at least have a future on special teams, where his turnover-forcing could be a fun wrinkle.

However, modern starting linebackers need to have some combination of instincts, range, explosiveness and ability to play in space, and you’re just not getting any of that with Murdock at a high enough level. Even if he were a standout in the ways he’s reputed to be (block deconstruction, physicality, play recognition), the profile would still be limited. For my board, he needs to have a great Combine to be a player I’d be interested in drafting in the first 4-5 rounds.

Grade

Tier 6 - Depth/Develop/Flier

Scale

Tier 1 - Elite Prospect
Tier 2 - Very Good Starter
Tier 3 - Good Starter
Tier 4 - Average Starter/High Rotation
Tier 5 - Low Rotation/Backup
Tier 6 - Depth/Develop/Flier