Tag: Drew Sanders

Broncos roster series: No. 41, ILB Drew Sanders

After a breakout season at Arkansas in 2022, Drew Sanders was picked by the Broncos in the third round of the NFL draft.

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Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at rookie inside linebacker Drew Sanders, No. 41.

Before the Broncos: Sanders (6-5, 233 pounds) started his college career at Alabama, serving mostly as a rotational player from 2020-2021. He then transferred to Arkansas ahead of the 2022 season and had a breakout year. Sanders totaled 103 tackles (13.5 behind the line), 9.5 sacks, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception in 12 games last fall. He received unanimous All-American recognition after his breakout year at Arkansas.

Broncos tenure: Denver picked Sanders in the third round of this year’s NFL draft. He will make his Broncos debut during preseason this summer.

Chance to make the 53-man roster: Sanders will be a lock to make the roster, but he probably won’t start right away. The Broncos already have Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton as their projected starters so Sanders will be joining Jonas Griffith as a top backup ILB in 2023. Sanders will likely get rotational snaps at ILB and play on special teams as a rookie, but he projects as a future starter in Denver.

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NFL Draft scout predicts 2023 Defensive Rookie Team

Will Anderson expected to have massive rookie season and appear on the 2023 Defensive Rookie Team

It is very difficult to find generational pass rushers in the NFL draft, especially given how valuable they have become in the modern game. Fortunately for the Houston Texans, found their guy as they traded up from the No. 12 selection in the 2023 draft to No. 3 to land former Alabama superstar [autotag]Will Anderson[/autotag]. Anderson is a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year as well as a two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner which is handed out annually to the top defensive player in college football.

Anderson has all of the talent and tools in the world and could be the defensive piece that the Texans begin to build around for the next decade. Head coach, and former Alabama player, DeMeco Ryans is reportedly incredibly impressed with Anderson and was a big driving force behind their decision to move up.

NFL draft insider, Chad Reuter, is also incredibly high on Anderson and thinks he has a chance to be the best player on the Texans’ defense as a rookie. Reuter projected the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie Team and the team is headlined by Anderson on the edge.

Reuter says of Anderson, “The highly regarded edge rusher faces a tall task to meet expectations. Though he won’t be the biggest defensive end in the league, the 6-foot-4, 243-pound Anderson can convert speed to power and use his length effectively from a three-point stance. He’ll be a true force as a rookie under head coach DeMeco Ryans if he’s able to mix up his pass-rush moves and consistently turn the corner.”

Anderson is the only Alabama player to make the list, however, former Alabama player, Drew Sanders, makes the list after transferring and spending his final season of college ball with Arkansas.

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Broncos injuries: OLB Baron Browning to start camp on PUP list

Broncos coach Sean Payton gave quick injury notes on Baron Browning, Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, Marvin Mims and Drew Sanders.

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As expected, Denver Broncos outside linebacker Baron Browning (knee) will miss the start of training camp after undergoing surgery this spring.

Broncos coach Sean Payton confirmed last week that Browning will begin camp on the physically unable to perform list in July.

“[H]e is someone who will start the season on PUP,” Payton said last Tuesday.

Elsewhere on the injury front, Denver running back Samaje Perine left practice last Wednesday with an apparent thumb injury. Payton did not seem concerned.

“I think they were just going to look at his thumb,” Payton said. “I haven’t gotten into the training room yet. They were just being smart. I’m sure he will be fine.”

After leaving Wednesday’s practice, Perine was back on the field with a taped thumb on Thursday.

Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims and linebacker Drew Sanders have worked on the side of the field for portions of the team’s offseason program while working their way back from undisclosed injuries. Payton was asked last week if he’s worried about Mims and Sanders falling behind.

“No, I think they’re both real sharp mentally,” the coach said. “We have real good early glimpses of them, and they’re quickly healing.”

Payton is also optimistic about the recovery of running back Javonte Williams (knee).

“He’s doing well,” Payton said. “I feel like I was at the start of the offseason. When I arrived, and with that type of injury, it was in the early stages. But yeah, I’m very optimistic.”

Browning aside, there’s mostly good news for the Broncos on the injury front as the team heads into the summer.

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Draft reaction: Denver Broncos select LB Drew Sanders No. 67 overall

Draft reaction: Denver Broncos select Arkansas LB Drew Sanders No. 67 overall

The Denver Broncos make another splash with their second pick in the 2023 NFL draft with the selection of a Swiss army knife of a linebacker in Arkanasas’ Drew Sanders.

A two-year player for Alabama before transferring to Arkansas in his final season, Drew Sanders put on a show with the Razorbacks. While he was perhaps underutilized with the Crimson Tide, Sanders became an immediate impact player and leader in the Arkansas defense, showing off a unique skillset as both a stand-up linebacker and top-end edge rusher. He was able to wrack up an incredible 39 quarterback pressures, 25 hurries, and eleven sacks, on top of an impressive 63 tackles in his last college season.

It will be interesting to see just how Vance Joseph uses Sanders in his rookie season, as he best projects as a stand up edge rusher. He fits well within the defense and should see playing time right away, and could be left to go hunt the quarterback early in his career. Though he may also fit well in a more traditional linebacker role, either way he will be an impact defensive player with good value given where Sanders was selected.

Broncos position preview for 2023: Inside linebacker

With Drew Sanders and Jonas Griffith behind Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton, the Broncos have good depth at ILB going into the summer.

After using a third-round pick to select Arkansas inside linebacker Drew Sanders in April’s draft, the Denver Broncos now have six ILBs on the 90-man offseason roster: Josey Jewell, Alex Singleton, Jonas Griffith, Sanders, Justin Strnad and Seth Benson.

Jewell and Singleton are returning as the team’s starting inside linebackers with Griffith and Sanders projected to serve as the top backups. Strnad and Benson will be competing for reps this summer as well.

Denver also has Ray Wilborn listed as a “linebacker” on their offseason roster. It’s unclear if Wilborn will play primarily as an inside linebacker or outside linebacker this season.

Broncos’ (Projected) ILB Depth Chart

Drew Sanders officially signs rookie contract with Denver Broncos

Former Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders has now officially signed his first NFL contract with the Denver Broncos.

Former Arkansas Razorback linebacker Drew Sanders officially inked his four-year rookie contract with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday night.

According to Mike Klis of KUSA-TV in Denver, the four-year deal is worth around $5.7 million with a $1.7 million signing bonus. He was the final Broncos rookie to sign a contract.

The Broncos selected Sanders in the third round of this year’s NFL Draft with the No. 67 overall pick after just one season with the Razorbacks. Sanders was able to make an immediate impact for the Razorbacks last season after transferring from Alabama.

Sanders finished the year with 103 total tackles (40 solo tackles), 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception. His 9.5 sacks were second in the SEC behind former Crimson Tide teammate Will Anderson (10.0 sacks).

Following his selection at No. 67 overall, Sanders became the highest Arkansas linebacker drafted since Quinton Caver was selected in the second round (No. 55 overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001. He also became the first Arkansas linebacker selected since Dre Greenlaw was selected in the fifth round (No. 148 overall) by San Francisco in 2019.

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Rookie stat projections: Denver Broncos

Projecting the rookie contributions for the Denver Broncos draft class of 2023

With the NFL draft over and rookie camps underway, it is a good time to evaluate the draft picks and see what kind of impacts the projected contributors will make.

Let’s take a look at the Denver Broncos draft picks and project some stats for the early role players:

Broncos signing LB Drew Sanders to 4-year rookie contract

The Broncos are signing LB Drew Sanders to a 4-year contract. Spotrac estimates it will be worth about $5.7 million.

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The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms on a four-year contract with rookie inside linebacker Drew Sanders, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.

Sanders, who was picked by the Broncos in the third round (67th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft, is now under contract through the 2026 season.

Based on the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with players, Spotrac.com estimates that Sanders will receive $5,734,727 over four years with an estimated $1,170,711 signing bonus. His salary cap hit is projected to be $1,042,678 this season.

Sanders projects as a future starter on defense but he is unlikely to start over Josey Jewell or Alex Singleton at inside linebacker as a rookie. While competing for rotational playing time at linebacker, Sanders will likely contribute primarily on special teams in 2023.

Sanders could also provide depth at outside linebacker in addition to competing for snaps at inside linebacker. He has experience at ILB and OLB from his time at Alabama, where he played before transferring to Arkansas ahead of the 2022 season.

Sanders is the fifth and final member of Denver’s draft class to sign.

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Sean Payton gives Ben DiNucci Wal-Mart career advice after rookie minicamp interception

Broncos head coach Sean Payton had some snappy career advice for quarterback Ben DiNucci after a minicamp interception.

New Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is clearly excited about his first rookie minicamp since 2021. The former New Orleans Saints head coach watched his third-round rookie linebacker Drew Sanders make an impressive interception touchdown of a Ben DiNucci pass. Dinucci, the ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback fresh off a season with the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons, didn’t quite live up to Payton’s positive talk before practice to new Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner, who is also the chairman of Wal-Mart.

As Payton (jokingly) said after practice, perhaps DiNucci has an alternate career path.

Unfortunately for Ben DiNucci, it was his first interception and there was more to that interception if you looked at it. it was good play by Sanders and it was right in front of Greg Penner. I was telling Greg before practice how this Ben DiNucci was doing well. I told Ben — I said, ‘You know, he owns Walmart. If it doesn’t work out here, I’m sure there’s a greeting opportunity somewhere at one of his local stores.’ It was good play by Drew, [he had] a good break.”

Ouch! Well, DiNucci has a bit of time to get things right before he puts on the blue vest.

Broncos’ drafted rookies pick jersey numbers

Broncos rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims has picked jersey No. 83.

The Denver Broncos announced jersey numbers for their five-player draft class on Thursday.

Here they are:

37 CB Riley Moss
41 LB Drew Sanders
46 DB JL Skinner
76 OL Alex Forsyth
83 WR Marvin Mims

Keep in mind that these numbers are subject to change, and some of them likely will change when Denver reduces the roster from 90 players down to 53 players later this summer.

The Broncos have not yet officially announced their undrafted free agent signings. Once those UDFA deals become official, those rookie jersey numbers will be announced as well.

Denver previously announced jersey numbers for veteran additions:

4 QB Jarrett Stidham
11 WR Marquez Callaway
17 WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
19 P Riley Dixon
20 FB Michael Burton
23 CB Tremon Smith
25 RB Samaje Perine
26 RB Tony Jones Jr.
55 C Kyle Fuller
69 T Mike McGlinchey
70 T Isaiah Prince
74 G Ben Powers
82 TE Adam Trautman
84 TE Chris Manhertz
90 DL Jordan Jackson
99 DE Zach Allen

Defensive lineman D.J. Jones (from 97 to 92) and quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (from 11 to 16) previously changed their numbers as well.

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