The Denver Broncos roster doesn’t have many significant question marks. It’s a solid group with quality starters at most positions on both sides of the ball. However, there are a few players on the outside looking in with respect to making the final 53-man roster.
One of those players is fourth-year linebacker Drew Sanders. A third-round pick in 2023, Sanders has struggled to stay healthy in his career with the Broncos. As a rookie, he played in all 17 games with 4 starts notching 23 tackles. Unfortunately, a torn Achilles limited him to just four games in 2024 and he missed all of last season with a foot injury.
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In the final year of his rookie contract, Sanders is still an unknown and wildcard with respect to development. He is hoping to stay healthy and find a way to make the team. But with strong competition at edge and even inside linebacker, is there a place for him on the 2026 squad? Let’s discuss.
Player Profile
Age: 25 | Experience: Fourth Year | College: Arkansas (via Alabama) | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 233 pounds
2025 Statistics: No statistics. Missed entire 2025 season due to injury.
Drew Sanders’ 2026 outlook with the Broncos
After three seasons, Sanders hasn’t been able to accomplish much on the field due to various injuries. He was a dynamic player in college who flashed as an off-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher. Alas, he still hasn’t found a home in Denver’s defense.
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Last month, Head Coach Sean Payton acknowledged that the vision for Sanders has been reshaped. This season, the former Arkansas standout will be getting a majority of his reps at the edge position.
“He’s doing well out here playing an edge position. He’s instinctive. He’s at one of those positions where it’s hard to evaluate with what we’re doing right now. He can get the alignment, the assignment, all of that. There’s a young player that, knock on wood, we feel like is really talented,” stated Payton.
Talent has never been a question with Sanders. His health is what has set him back from what appeared to be a promising career based on his athleticism and traits coming out of college. Even so, I think Sanders has an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster even if he can stay healthy.
Final Thoughts
The Broncos have a crowded room at edge rusher. Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss, Dondrea Tillman, and Que Robinson are four locks to make the Broncos’ final roster. The unknown at this point in time is veteran Jonathon Cooper. His off the field incidents last month may wind up with him being suspended for a decent portion of the season.
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In the event that happens, Sanders could potentially be the fifth man in their edge rotation. He will have to impress in training camp and throughout the preseason in order to do so. If that happens, I still wouldn’t expect much from him in the way of defensive snaps. Given the depth above, it’s far more likely that he would see most reps as a special team’s player.
