Arkansas Razorbacks linebacker Drew Sanders is one of the most versatile players at his position in the 2023 NFL Draft. With the ability to play either as an inside linebacker or as an edge rusher, Sanders can fit any defensive scheme.
He has NFL size, and he’s been asked to play different roles, even in different programs, yet Sanders still stands out, no matter what’s asked of him. For that reason, Sanders has a floor considerably higher than several of his peers. Seeing which role an NFL defensive coordinator places Sanders in will be a fun storyline to watch once he’s drafted.
Despite his ability to play multiple roles, Sanders isn’t viewed as a first-round prospect, so why not? We’ll go deeper into what Sanders does well, where he could improve, and his NFL projection in his draft profile below.
Drew Sanders measurables
- Drew Sanders height: 6-foot-4
- Drew Sanders weight: 235 pounds
- Drew Sanders 40 time: 4.66 (pro day)
Let’s dive into our Drew Sanders scouting report and NFL projection.
Drew Sanders stats and background
As if it wasn’t already obvious, Drew Sanders was born to play football. He did it all at Lake Dallas High School, playing quarterback and linebacker, becoming a five-star recruit in the eyes of 247 Sports. A coach’s son, Sanders committed to Oklahoma as a sophomore but wound up starting his college career with Nick Saban at Alabama instead.
Despite being ranked as the 22nd-best prospect in the country after his high school days were done, Sanders was relegated mostly to special teams duties as a freshman with the Crimson Tide. He transferred to Arkansas after his sophomore season, where he then moved to an inside linebacker role instead of rushing off the edge.
Related: 2023 NFL defense rankings
| Drew Sanders stats | Tackles | Sacks | Pass deflections |
| 2021 (Alabama) | 24 (2.5 TFL) | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 (Arkansas) | 103 (13.5 TFL) | 9.5 | 3 (1 INT) |
The move, both to Arkansas and to inside linebacker, paid off, with Sanders becoming a finalist for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker.
Statistics courtesy of College Football Reference, ESPN, and Pro Football Focus
Drew Sanders scouting report
NFL scouts likely drool over the possibilities with Drew Sanders. He’s at the peak of the height spectrum and doesn’t lack athleticism or football IQ. He really just needs to gain experience, add mass and find his true positional home.
Along with the gained experience, we’d like to see Sanders improve his approach as a tackler, where he can lose his base and balance, leading to missed opportunities. While we’d like to think this is an area he can easily and quickly improve in over time, nothing is guaranteed. But then there are moments like this, where Sanders absolutely stonewalls a ballcarrier.
But that’s just it. Even if Sanders can’t prove to be a reliable tackler, there’s always the fallback of sliding over to the edge, where he can pin his ears back and focus on generating pressure. Even if he’s at middle linebacker, you’ll see teams routinely take advantage of his ability to get home where he can rope in quarterbacks, wherever Sanders lands.
With his size, athleticism, and range, you’d like to think Sanders could excel in coverage, and maybe that can still be true, but like his ability to wrap up, he’ll have to continue working on his ability to read and react.
- Drew Sanders draft grade: 72/100
- Drew Sanders draft projection: Second or third-round pick
NFL projection for Drew Sanders
Chances are Sanders will move back outside where he can consistently put his pass-rush skills to the test. But it all depends on his landing spot. A team could just as easily start him as a middle linebacker first, seeing how he grows into the position before declaring him strictly as an edge rusher.
Really, Sanders is the ultimate chess piece because he keeps opponents guessing. Will he drop back in coverage, or is he coming for the QB? At 6-foot-5, you better know where Sanders is pre-snap and where he’s headed once the ball is in the QB’s hands.
With Sanders likely looking at being a second or third-round pick, projecting his NFL home is difficult. Especially considering we don’t know which position teams are targeting him for. Once drafted, it should become apparent.
We don’t anticipate Sanders making a massive impact as a rookie due to still being raw as a 21-year-old defender who only started for one season in college. But players aren’t selected for what they do as rookies. It’s more about what they can develop into by year two or three. Sanders certainly profiles as a high-upside prospect who could become a star.