One of many normal, and considerably foolish questions, draft prospects are all the time requested by media on the NFL Scouting Mix is relating to which groups they’ve met with. It’s sort of foolish as a result of the truth is that sooner or later prospects of this caliber meet in some trend with each workforce.
But, when Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders was requested that query on Wednesday morning, his reply bought my consideration.
The primary workforce Sanders talked about having met with, out of 11 mix workforce interviews he had accomplished to that time, was the New York Giants.
Sure, the Giants. A workforce that desperately must infuse a linebacker corps that continuously modified in 2022 with further expertise.
Sanders mentioned his assembly with the Giants was “a fairly cool … relaxed interview.”
The Giants churned by way of linebackers in 2022. They minimize Blake Martinez earlier than the season began. They moved on from Austin Calitro and Tae Crowder through the season. They added free agent Jaylon Smith early within the season, then signed veteran Jarrad Davis off the Detroit Lions’ follow squad close to the top of the 12 months. They performed rookie Micah McFadden, then didn’t play him, then re-inserted him into the lineup, then benched him in favor of Davis within the playoffs.
Level is, they by no means actually discovered a passable reply on the place.
May the 6-foot-5, 233-pound Sanders, the Thirty second-ranked prospect on the NFL Mock Draft Database Massive Board and a participant typically mocked to the Giants at No. 25, be the participant within the draft the Giants flip to as a possible resolution?
Sanders is a lean participant who admitted on Wednesday throughout his media availability that he’s “fairly uncooked” as an off-ball linebacker prospect.
Sanders was an offensive participant as a child — quarterback, large receiver, operating again.
“Wasn’t too good at throwing the ball, was fairly good at operating the ball so ended up taking part in just a little little bit of receiver and operating again,” he mentioned.
Sanders performed on either side of the ball in highschool whereas attending three completely different faculties as he adopted his father, a highschool soccer coach, from college to highschool.
His coronary heart, although, was on protection.
“I all the time thought my athletic skill was one in all my strengths,” he mentioned. “I actually needed to make the transfer again to [playing] on my toes. Actually felt sort of snug making that call.”
Sanders had two years of expertise at Alabama as an edge defender, then transferred to Arkansas and performed for the primary time as on off-ball linebacker in 2022.
Sanders, although, trusts his instruments.
“There’s loads to enhance on,” he mentioned. “I really feel fairly snug that I can cowl a cross, get after the quarterback and cease the run.
“I’ve all the time trusted my velocity and my athleticism. Really feel snug in house.”
Sanders needed to be a linebacker due to his father, Mitch.
“He was a operating again and a linebacker by commerce,” Sanders mentioned. “My dad’s been my position mannequin. I’ve all the time needed to be like my dad. I’m fairly snug on my toes, clearly love the defensive facet of the ball.”
Sanders is perhaps a beginner at off-ball linebacker, however soccer has all the time been a part of his life.
“My first time sitting in a workforce assembly I used to be three years previous,” Sanders mentioned. “I’ve been round soccer endlessly.”
When Sanders determined to attend Alabama out of highschool, Mitch Sanders advised Alabama media a narrative about his son creating a playbook on the age of 5.
“He introduced me a playbook that he had written. It was an excellent playbook, however I couldn’t use it,” his father, Mitch Sanders, recalled with amusing. “There would have been like 20 guys on offense and perhaps three or 4 on protection. He’d be mad that I didn’t run that play.
“From the time he was in all probability 5, I couldn’t shake him on a Saturday. Whether or not it was going to my workplace on the college or coaches conferences, he would all the time sit in there. I feel soccer IQ smart, he learns that stuff fairly rapidly.”
Sanders admitted Wednesday that sacking the quarterback continues to be his favourite play. Whereas that’s extra generally related to being an edge participant, Sanders is dedicated to a future taking part in off the ball.
“That’s one of many first questions each time I am going within the room is the place do I see myself on this league,” he mentioned. “I all the time inform ‘em center of the sphere.”
It’s a spot the place the Giants may definitely use the assistance.
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