It’s a make or break year for Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders

In his third year with the Broncos, it might be a make or break year for Drew Sanders.

With their 67th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders. The former Alabama transfer was coming off a breakout year and was even given a first-round grade by some notable draft analysts. This selection gave Broncos fans some hope that Sanders could be their long-term answer at the linebacker position.

While Sanders showed some promise during camp and the preseason, he had his struggles throughout the year. At Alabama, he was an edge rusher but transitioned to off-ball linebacker at Arkansas. While he was productive, his inexperience at the position and lack of instincts in coverage really began to show. Due to these struggles, the Broncos started using Sanders on the edge to take advantage of his size, length, and athleticism while also providing some much-needed depth at that position.

As we headed into the 2024 offseason, reports indicated that Sanders would stick at edge rusher. This was going to be an important offseason for Sanders as he was making a positional switch and entering his first full offseason with the Broncos. Unfortunately, Sanders would end up tearing his Achilles early in the offseason, and the Broncos would go on to draft edge rusher Jonah Elliss in the third round of the draft. Not only did he suffer a major injury and lose out on valuable reps, growth, and development, but the team drafted another edge rusher, which clouded his future even more.

Due to the Achilles injury, Sanders would miss the entire offseason and the vast majority of the 2025 NFL regular season. However, since the injury happened early in the offseason, Sanders was able to rehab successfully and return to the field for the Broncos late in the year. When he did return, he was back at linebacker and made his presence known during the Broncos’ key Thursday Night game vs. the Chargers. Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph sent Sanders on a blitz, and he made it through their offensive line untouched and was able to sack quarterback Justin Herbert on a big third-down play.

While he only played in four games and was used sparingly, we did get some insight into how the Broncos plan on using Sanders moving forward. Now, he is entering his third season with the Broncos, fully healthy from his injury, and going through his first full offseason of his career.

This could be a big make-or-break year for Drew Sanders.

Player Profile

Drew Sanders | Linebacker | Broncos

Height: 6-5

Weight: 233 pounds

Age: 24 years old

Experience: 3rd year

2024 stats: Played in 4 games and totaled 8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, and 1 sack

Broncos LB Drew Sanders’ 2025 outlook

Sanders is a bit of a mystery. He hasn’t played much since being drafted, went from linebacker to edge rusher, back to linebacker, and suffered a serious injury. We’re entering his third season with the Broncos with a lot more questions than answers.

The one answer we do know, at least, is the position he will be playing this upcoming season. Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton was recently asked about his vision for Sanders moving forward. He told reporters that the “vision is clear” and that Sanders will be an inside linebacker for the Broncos. However, he continued by saying he’ll be a pressure player for them, which means we will likely still see Sanders rush the passer.

“No, the vision is clear. Inside linebacker. We think he’s a pressure player. So obviously, there’s ways where you can pressure that guy from a stacked position, or to an outside position. He’s doing well handling it.”

It sounds like we could see Sanders used as a blitzer like we saw vs. the Chargers last season, while also being moved around the defensive front. You can get creative with a player like this when you have a stacked defense, but Sanders needs to hold up his end of the bargain.

Through his first two seasons with the Broncos, he hasn’t played well, switched positions, and then suffered a major injury and missed a lot of time. The clock is ticking for him to prove himself to the coaches, and he could be facing a make-or-break year this season.

These coming months will be huge for Sanders. He needs to show he can rush the passer and be a consistent “pressure player”, stay healthy, grow as a traditional inside linebacker, and contribute on special teams. If he can do all that, he is likely a lock for the roster. If he struggles and/or ends up missing more time, he could easily be on the roster bubble.

He is one of the bigger question marks on defense for the Broncos and will be an interesting player to watch throughout camp and into the preseason.

Final Thoughts

Sanders is a big question mark for the Broncos.

Is he a linebacker, edge rusher, or a hybrid pressure player? Does he have the ability to drop in coverage as a linebacker? Can he push Alex Singleton for a starting job? Is he fully recovered from his Achilles injury?

These are all important questions that Sanders needs to answer in the coming months. He is likely on the roster bubble and will need a strong summer to lock up a roster spot. The fact that he is a former third-round pick by the team may give him a few more chances, but the clock is ticking for Sanders.

Ideally, he figures it out this summer, has a breakout year, and becomes an impact player for an already talented Broncos defense. That’s the outcome we all should be rooting for, but unfortunately, that seems pretty unlikely right now.

Let’s see if he can prove the doubters wrong.