Broncos Predicted to Draft 'Steal' ILB by NFL.com
The Denver Broncos will not be featured in many mock drafts this offseason since the team lacks a first or second-round draft pick. Fret not, though, Broncos Country.
Some of the biggest deep-divers covering the NFL draft will work their way to the Broncos from time to time. Denver currently owns two early third-round selections — picks 67 and 68 — in the 2023 draft.
One analyst that consistently goes well beyond the humdrum first-round mocks is NFL.com’s Chad Reuter. With most draft analysts forsaking the Broncos this draft season with so little early capital, Reuter is providing much-needed attention to all 32 teams — even the ones who have traded away a majority of their picks.
In Reuter’s first mock draft of the season, he has the Broncos adding a player on each side of the ball: USC offensive guard Andrew Vorhees at pick No. 67 and Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders at No. 68.
Let's break down each prospect Reuter sees landing in Denver.
Vorhees
It would be somewhat of a surprise if Broncos GM George Paton actually keeps both of these back-to-back third-rounders rather than flipping one of them for much-needed additional draft capital for this season, but for now, Denver does possess both selections.
A frequent mention in many way-too-early first-round mocks, Vorhees’ stock has fallen to approximately the middle to end of Round 3 over the last month. Vorhees has played across the line of scrimmage during his time in Los Angeles but appears destined for an eventual starting spot at guard at the NFL level.
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, Vorhees is a large guard prospect who provides a solid push in the run game, possesses a solid anchor against power rushers, and has started 25 games at right guard, eight at left guard, and four at left tackle.
While Vorhees has played a lot of football as a redshirt senior on a good Power Five football team, he is not a dynamic athlete for the guard position. He's a solid mover in space and strong but not overly twitchy nor explosive out of his stance. Furthermore, his height could end up being a 'double whammy' for him as a match to Denver.
From time to time, Vorhees' pad level could get high against PAC-12-level interior defensive linemen, which will likely be a problem that is greatly amplified by far better trench talent in the NFL. Also, given his height from on the interior, it could be an issue for Denver with the stout Russell Wilson under center, who already struggles to see over his offensive line when targeting the middle of the field.
Vorhees could compete for a starting spot in Denver at left guard, but he should go later than when Denver picks in the third round currently.
Sanders
On the other hand, Sanders is a player that very well could end up as the best off-ball linebacker in the entire 2023 draft. Currently being mocked at approximately the 31st overall selection by most mocksters, he would be a steal at pick No. 68, according to the consensus.
A former five-star recruit that originally went to Alabama to be a pass rusher, Sanders' 6-foot-5, 232-pound size and length make him a very unique weapon for any team’s front seven. While many fanbases are frothing at the mouth for 'coverage' linebackers that can help match up against the Travis Kelces of the world, such as superstar linebacker Fred Warner, that is not where Sanders shines.
Instead, Sanders' explosiveness coming downhill as a rusher while still possessing solid athleticism in pursuit makes him a fun downhill player. In today’s NFL, with teams using more simulated pressures than ever before, his ability to line up over different gaps to show blitz pre-snap with the ability to rush or drop back gives a defense the ability to create confusion and matchup issues for opposing blocking schemes.
Sanders is still relatively new to the off-ball spot after transitioning to more of an edge rusher position, so he will likely be a somewhat volatile player in the mental aspects of the game early in his career. He would not solve Broncos Country’s desire for a speed linebacker who can cover like a defensive back to help slow down tight ends like Kelce.
That said, if the Broncos continue to live in pressure packages and simulated pressures under new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, as they did under Ejiro Evero, then a height/weight/speed/length linebacker who can be a weapon in pressure looks would be a fantastic get for the defense in Round 3.
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