Gut Reaction: Broncos Select Arkansas LB Drew Sanders
Broncos Country was forced to wait and watch first-round prospects come and go on Thursday night before Denver traded up into the second round on Friday night and made its first 2023 draft pick in Oklahoma wideout Marvin Mims Jr. (No. 63).
Minutes later, the Denver Broncos selected Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders with the No. 67 overall pick, bolstering Vance Joseph’s defense. What should Broncos Country make of the Sanders pick? Let's dive in.
Resume
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound ‘backer has been a sought-after prospect since his high school playing days in Denton, TX. Sanders was a five-star prospect that excelled at a host of positions, including quarterback, tight end, and linebacker. He entertained offers from LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, and Penn State before choosing to play defense at Alabama.
Stats
Sanders won a National Championship with ‘Bama in 2020 and played in 15 career games logging 33 tackles (16 solo), 2.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, and two passes defensed. In addition to being an immediate defensive contributor, Sanders became a spark plug for the Crimson Tide’s special teams before he transferred to Arkansas in 2022.
Continuing to play in the SEC with the Razorbacks, Sanders appeared in 12 games and recorded 103 tackles (40 solo), 13.5 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, five passes defended, one fumble recovery, and one interception. His highly productive junior season earned him first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors.
Skill Set
The SEC standout has exceptional closing speed and can quite literally transition from backpedal and blitz to roaming the field sideline to sideline. His versatility and power make him an immediate candidate to compete on the edge in the NFL as well. Watching Sanders’ game film, it’s evident that this aggressive defender has the athleticism to be a playmaker with consistent discipline as it relates to his assignments.
In a night full of surprises, Sanders' name being called by the Broncos certainly didn’t fail to stun the fans of the Orange and Blue. Praised by the scouting community for being a tough, gritty, and blue-collar player, Sanders should assimilate into the Broncos' linebacker room that features the ‘Bash Brothers,’ Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton.
Gut Reaction
Head coach Sean Payton has expressed a strong expectation of his players to work hard and in silence so far this offseason, and that’s exactly who Sanders is. Don’t expect to see workout videos or clothing lines with this young prospect.
Instead, you should expect to see the 21-year-old be one of the first players on the field and last off. He’s a gym rat that has the potential to become an early fan favorite due to his throwback linebacker of yesteryear image.
Sanders will immediately be tasked with leading a new and improved special teams unit, and will likely be called upon to provide stability and depth on the Broncos' defense in his rookie season. Injuries can be expected at any time and at any time, which always forces young players into action.
You better believe that if injuries force Sanders into early action this season, the rookie third-rounder will be ready to produce snot-rattling results in Denver.
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