Can Drew Sanders fill Micah Parsons-like role for Broncos?
One of the very seldom bright spots in 2022 was the Denver Broncos defense. The unit was easily one of the NFL's best and it was the main reason the team competed the few times it did. The defense lost its architect in Ejiro Evero over the offseason, but Sean Payton brought in Vance Joseph, […]
One of the very seldom bright spots in 2022 was the Denver Broncos defense. The unit was easily one of the NFL's best and it was the main reason the team competed the few times it did.
The defense lost its architect in Ejiro Evero over the offseason, but Sean Payton brought in Vance Joseph, who has led some pretty successful defenses during his time in the league. So, overall, the unit may not be as good as it was last year – but it should still be pretty good in 2023.
One player who can help avoid the yearly variance we see in defenses is rookie Drew Sanders. The former Razorback is a bit of a puzzle when it comes to what he can do in the NFL and it'll be interesting to see how Joseph and co. use him. One NFL writer/analyst sees a potential role that could easily turn Sanders into an instant-impact player, however.
Could Sanders fill a Micah Parsons-like role?
CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso recently wrote a column on post-Day 1 draft picks that could earn a big role in 2023 and he chose Sanders for the Broncos. This is where he explains his vision for Sanders:
As long as the Broncos don't try to make Sanders a classic off-ball linebacker and primarily ask him to do things like stack and shed blocks between the tackles and sift through traffic to get to the ball carriers, he will make a significant impact on the Broncos defense in 2023. So what should they do with him? Literally deploy him precisely the way the Cowboys did with Micah Parsons in 2021. Plenty of traditional edge-rushing responsibilities. Some interior blitz opportunities. That's where Sanders is best. If he's unchained to rush the passer from the perimeter of the defensive line — monster rookie year for Sanders. – Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports
Now, Sanders doesn't have the unicorn-like athleticism that Parsons possesses, but he is athletic, explosive, long, and rangy like Parsons. In fact, Sanders' 32.125" arms are longer than Parsons' 31.5" arms. Sanders also has a speed to power element that is more efficient than what Parsons had coming out of college.
It's not just about the player, though. The defensive coordinator will have a lot to do with both Sanders' role and the success he has in said role. Fortunately, Joseph is a creative mind like Dan Quinn. Jospeh also had a versatile player in Isaiah Simmons during the past three years in Arizona, so he's familiar with a player that is more of a "wildcard", so to speak.
The only caveat with Simmons is, well, he never really flourished under Joseph. I'm not fully informed of all the reasons behind that and we all know there can be many reasons why Simmons hasn't worked out. Regardless, Joseph is getting another shot with Sanders and I'm sure it's safe to say he's hoping things work out differently in Denver.
Overall, Sanders has a lot to work on before becoming an off-ball linebacker at heart and tackling/shedding blocks are two of the things he really needs to improve. Obviously, a guy who struggles at finishing tackles and getting off blocks shouldn't be chasing down ball carriers and trying to shoot gaps on a consistent basis. Utilizing Sanders in an all-around role while he works on his weaknesses is a great strategy in Year 1. And, it could have a big impact.
Will it have a Parsons-like impact? That's really hard to accomplish, to begin with. Parsons is simply different and it's objectively unfair to put those kind of expectations on a third-round draft pick. But, never say never, obviously. Even if Sanders has half the impact, it'll be considered a big win for the Broncos.
You can check out Trapasso's full column, here.
Featured image via Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
