5 prospects Commanders must monitor at 2023 NFL Scouting Combine

Commanders must monitor Drew Sanders

• Linebacker | Arkansas Razorbacks

All hope is not lost where Jamin Davis is concerned after a 100-tackle campaign in 2022. However, the Washington Commanders would be foolish to ignore a gifted group of linebackers emerging from the college ranks this year.

Perhaps one of the most intriguing is Drew Sanders. The Arkansas product has experience operating anywhere across the second level and boasts the sort of instincts that can become a three-down threat from the moment he steps onto an NFL field.

Sanders did his chances of a top-100 selection this spring the world of good in 2022, racking up 103 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks during his final season with the Razorbacks. Pass-rushing is where the player excels, but he is more than capable of setting the edge against the run and also slotting onto the interior when required.

This sort of versatility is only going to make Sanders more appealing to NFL teams. While he might be a little undersized for a true edge rusher, that doesn’t detract from what an outstanding linebacker he could be in the right system.

Sanders looks tailor-made for Jack Del Rio’s scheme, where he’d be working behind a defensive line loaded with first-round talent. His ongoing growth in coverage is something else working in his favor, so the Commanders should watch his progress with a keen eye at the NFL Scouting Combine.