Denver Broncos Shift Drew Sanders Back Outside, 2026 Outlook

Denver Broncos officials announced on June 6 that former third‑round pick Drew Sanders will return to an outside linebacker role for the 2026 season, ending months of speculation about his position on the depth chart. The move follows a devastating foot injury that sidelined Sanders for all of 2025 and fresh comments from head coach Sean Payton about keeping Jonah Elliss on the outside. This strategic pivot comes at a critical juncture for a franchise attempting to regain its identity as a defensive powerhouse in the AFC West, a division defined by high-powered offenses and elite quarterback play.

Sanders entered the league as a versatile “tweener” capable of lining up inside or outside, a trait that helped Denver select him at No. 67 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. In the modern NFL, the ‘tweener’ profile—players with the size of a defensive end but the speed of an outside linebacker—is highly coveted for its ability to confuse offensive coordinators. However, after missing the entire 2025 campaign, the Broncos’ decision signals a desire to maximize his raw pass‑rush upside rather than force him into a hybrid role that might dilute his primary strength: explosive get-off and closing speed.

What prompted the Broncos to revert Sanders to the edge?

Coaching staff evaluations concluded that Sanders’ limited snaps in 2025 were largely due to his foot injury, which hampered his ability to maintain the inside gap against the run. Playing the interior requires a level of lower-body stability and anchor strength to hold off 320-pound offensive guards—capabilities that were compromised during his rehabilitation process. By shifting him back to the edge, the Broncos allow Sanders to utilize his lateral agility and speed to bend the edge, reducing the direct physical toll of interior collisions while maximizing his impact on the quarterback.

Payton, who took over in 2024, reiterated his commitment to an aggressive 4‑13 scheme that favors athletic edge rushers, making the outside assignment a natural fit. The 4‑13 base defense relies on a strong interior to eat space, allowing the edge rushers to isolate in one-on-one matchups. For Sanders, this means a return to the environment where he felt most comfortable during his collegiate career, where his first step was a primary weapon in disrupting the pocket. This shift suggests that Denver is prioritizing a ‘speed-to-power’ transition, hoping that a healthy Sanders can create a vertical push that forces quarterbacks to scramble into the waiting arms of the interior line.

How does Sanders’ draft pedigree affect his contract outlook?

Selected in the third round, Sanders carries a modest rookie contract with a cap hit well below the league average for linebackers. In an era of skyrocketing contracts for edge rushers—where elite pass rushers now command $20M+ annually—having a productive third-round pick on a rookie deal is a massive competitive advantage. Keeping him on the outside could preserve his rookie deal through 2027, allowing Denver to allocate cap space to other defensive needs, such as reinforcing the secondary or upgrading the interior defensive tackle rotation.

From a front-office perspective, the move is a risk-mitigation strategy. By placing Sanders in a role where he can produce high-visibility statistics (sacks and forced fumbles), the Broncos are essentially betting on his ability to prove he is a long-term cornerstone. If Sanders flourishes on the edge, the team has a cost-controlled weapon for several more years; if he struggles, they have avoided the mistake of compromising their interior run defense with a player who may no longer possess the anchor strength required for the inside.

Denver Broncos Look to Revamp Edge Pressure

Denver Broncos plan to lean on Sanders’ speed to boost their blitz rate, which ranked 22nd last season at 12.3% of snaps. This lack of aggression has left the Broncos’ defense looking predictable on third-and-long situations, often allowing opposing quarterbacks to find check-down options with ease. The numbers show that teams with a top‑five edge‑rush win rate often post a higher third‑down stop percentage, as consistent pressure forces hurried throws and increases the probability of interceptions.

If Sanders can replicate his rookie‑year eight‑sack production in a full campaign, the Broncos could climb into the top ten for sacks, a metric that correlates strongly with playoff chances. To put this in perspective, the league’s most successful defenses over the last five years have consistently averaged 45+ sacks per season. By pairing Sanders with other edge threats, Denver is attempting to create a ‘symmetric pressure’ look, where the quarterback cannot simply slide the pocket in one direction to avoid pressure.

Head coach Sean Payton Emphasizes Two‑Edge Attack

Head coach Sean Payton told reporters that Jonah Elliss will remain on the outside, confirming the Broncos’ commitment to a two‑edge rush. This creates a formidable pairing that forces opposing offensive tackles to deal with two distinct styles of rushing: Elliss’s disciplined technique and Sanders’ raw athleticism. Payton added that the defensive coordinator is studying more 3‑14 looks, but Sanders’ role will stay firmly on the edge for now. The 3‑14 look, which utilizes three down linemen and four linebackers, provides more flexibility in coverage but requires the edge rushers to be even more disciplined in their gap assignments.

This philosophy mirrors the approach taken by the Patriots in 2022, when a similar edge‑focused scheme helped them post a +5 turnover differential. By emphasizing the edges, the Patriots forced quarterbacks into mistakes, much like what Payton envisions for Denver. The goal is to create a ‘containment’ shell that prevents the quarterback from escaping the pocket, effectively shrinking the field and forcing the offense into predictable passing windows.

Key Developments

• Sanders was the 67th overall pick in the 2023 draft, a slot typically reserved for interior defenders or versatile hybrids.
• His 2025 foot injury occurred during the first week of training camp and required surgical repair, causing him to miss the entire season.
• Sean Payton publicly stated that Jonah Elliss will remain on the outside, confirming the Broncos’ commitment to a two‑edge rush.
• The Broncos’ defensive coordinator has hinted at a shift to more 3‑14 look sets, but Sanders’ role will stay firmly on the edge for now.

Impact and what’s next for Denver

By slotting Sanders back on the outside, the Broncos gain a pass‑rusher who recorded eight sacks in limited action during his rookie year—a rate that suggests he could hit double digits if given a full 17-game slate. If he returns to health, his speed could boost Denver‘s blitz rate and improve third‑down stop percentages, making the defense far more lethal against the high-flying offenses of the AFC West.

However, critics note that the move limits his versatility and may expose the interior against power‑run teams. By moving a versatile player to a fixed position, the Broncos lose the ability to shift their front based on the opponent’s personnel. If they face a heavy-personnel team that utilizes a power-running game, the lack of a hybrid defender who can slide inside may leave gaps in the A and B gaps. The next step will be his participation in the 2026 training camp, where performance will dictate whether he earns a starting role or remains a rotational piece. The eyes of the league will be on his first few practices to see if the surgery has robbed him of that explosive first step that made him a third-round talent.