In the countdown to cutdown, Red is Relevant, and 2K is a keeper.

One was picked last in the NFL draft. The other languished during the draft unpicked.

Yet, Khalil Elijah Murdock and Kolbe Katsis belong on the Broncos’ roster. Those two NFL neophytes are special teamers.

While fantasy football fanciers and media augurs concentrate on the Bo Nix return, the Jaylen Waddle acquisition and the Jonah Coleman locomotive, a couple of sanguine sidebars should be scrutinized.

At a Virginia elementary school, Red Murdock earned a perfect score on the Standards of Learning English state exam. Years later, he graduated from college several semesters prematurely with a degree in psychology.

Also, Murdock was a football player recruited by only one Divison I team — the Bulls of the University at Buffalo, where he broke the NCAA career record of forced fumbles (17).

The true scholar-athlete was drafted 257th this year and designated “Mr. Irrelevant.” Broncos general manager George Paton called Murdock a tackling machine.

In two exhibitions, the Big “Red” machine leads the Broncos in overall tackles with 16, including nine in the first game. The defense is searching for a backup inside linebacker/special teams swarmer. Welcome to Denver, Mr. Murdock.

Khalil Elijah, 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds and only 22, received a guaranteed $120,000 bonus and will get $885,000 if he makes the team.

And, oh, he tipped an errant Falcons pass to Jahdae Barron for the 97-yard interception touchdown.

Wide receiver/returner Katsis, 24, was awarded a measly $5,000 signing bonus after all 32 teams declined to select him in the draft. If the Broncos veteran receivers demand Kolbe pay for dinner one night, he’ll have to take them to Sam’s No. 3.

But if he lands a spot on the roster, Kolbe will collect $885,000, too.

Both are bargains.

In his two appearances, Kolbe has caught a pass (targeted twice) for 15 yards. However, he is leading in return yardage with Marvin Mims sidelined because of a minor groin injury.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Katsis had one kickoff return for 22 yards against the Falcons, but was unleashed vs. the Packers with four for 117 yards — counting one for 40 yards — and added his first punt return for 17 yards.

Katsis played at Division II Pittsburg State (in Kansas), then moved up to Division I Northern Arizona. He finished his college career with 165 receptions for 2,674 yards and 21 touchdowns and averaged 30 yards per return.

Darren Rizzi, Broncos special teams coordinator, was a Double-A twofer Katsis advocate when undrafted players were sought.

Kolbe wears the same number jersey (81) as former Broncos undrafted free agent wide receiver Steve Watson, who shined for nine seasons here, became an All-Pro, is now a motivational speaker and should be on the franchise’s Wall of Fame.

If Kolbe doesn’t get the last spot on the 53-man roster, he’ll definitely be on the practice squad.

The roster must be confirmed by next Sunday night.

The current leaders in the locker room before the final exhibition should be (with asterisks for new players):

Quarterbacks (3): Nix, Jarrett Stidham, Sam Ehlinger.

Running backs (4): J.K. Dobbins, RJ Harvey, *Coleman, Tyler Badie.

Fullback (1): Adam Prentice.

Wide receivers (5): *Waddle, Mims, Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant.

Tight ends (4): Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, *Justin Joly.

Offensive linemen (9): Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenburg, Quinn Meinerz, Mike McGlinchey, Alex Palczewski, Matt Peart, Alex Forsyth, *Cage Casey.

Defensive linemen (6): Zach Allen, D.J. Jones, Eyioma Uwazurike, Malcolm Roach, *Tyler Onyedim, Jordan Jackson.

Linebackers (9): Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, Que Robinson, Drew Sanders, *Red Murdock, Dondrea Tillman, Jonathon Cooper (?).

Cornerbacks (5): Patrick Surtain II, Ja’Quan McMillan, Riley Moss, Jahdae Barron, Kris Abrams-Draine.

Safeties (4): Talanoa Hufanga, Brandon Jones, *Taylor Rapp, Devon Key.

Kicker (1): Wil Lutz.

Punter (1): Jeremy Crawshaw.

Long snapper (1): *Luke Basso.

Kickoff, punt returner (1): *Kolbe Katsis.

At least one undrafted free agent has reached the Broncos’ opening-game roster for 21 of the past 22 seasons. Katsis and Basso, the Oregon Ducks long snapper for the past three years, would continue the franchise tradition. And Murdock would be the second Mr. Irrelevant.

Chad Kelly, ahem, was the other.