Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Did Broncos get one of the best defensive steals in the draft?

Are the Broncos getting one of the best defensive steals in the NFL Draft after selecting Arkansas LB Drew Sanders

Sanders was a projected first- or second-round pick, per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein; Denver scooped him up with the No. 67 overall pick in the third round on Friday. 

Sanders' NFL comparison is Chicago Bears LB Tremaine Edmunds, a two-time Pro Bowler. Last season at Arkansas, he earned first-team All-American honors and was named a Butkus Award Finalist. According to NFL.com, he was the second-best LB prospect in the 2023 class.  

It's unclear where he fits in Denver's 3-4 scheme since it has inside linebackers Josey Jewell and Alex Singleton. 

Singleton had the sixth-most tackles in the league last season (100 in 17 games), while Jewell has been with the club for five seasons. 

Sanders can line up as an edge-rusher, which would be a good spot for him since he had 9.5 sacks in 12 games, tied for 14th in the FBS. 

Denver must strengthen its pass-rush after it traded former Pro Bowlers Von Miller to the Rams in 2021 and Bradley Chubb to Miami in 2022.

LB Baron Browning showed flashes of a game-wrecker, recording five sacks in 14 games, but Randy Gregory was a free-agent flop. The 30-year-old missed 11 games with a right knee injury and recorded two sacks in five games. 

Since Gregory is injury-prone and appears to regress, Denver might move Sanders to strong-side LB and develop its next pass-rushing force. 

Regardless, it's a solid pick for the Broncos because they snagged one of the draft's best LBs.

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