Former Arkansas linebacker Drew Sanders takes top-30 visit with Dallas Cowboys

Former Arkansas Razorbacks star linebacker Drew Sanders took a top-30 prospect visit to the Dallas Cowboys this week, according to Nick Eatman of the Cowboys’ editorial team.

A potential first or second-round draft pick, Sanders is a wanted man. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, he will visit the Detroit Lions next week after his Dallas trip.

After leaving Alabama for Arkansas, Sanders racked up a career-high 103 tackles with 9.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss and an interception for the Razorbacks.

The former Bama linebacker and Denton, Texas native recently revealed his childhood affinity for the Dallas Cowboys.

“Yeah, a little bit of a Cowboys fan,” Sanders said. “You get to play in the NFL, can’t be too picky.”

On ESPN’s best-available board, he’s the No. 2 inside linebacker in the 2023 draft class. The Cowboys have also brought in the No. 3 best-available for a visit – Clemson’s Trenton Simpson.

The Dallas Cowboys’ list of visitors so far seems to suggest preferences for a wide receiver, offensive lineman, defensive lineman, cornerback and linebacker. They’ve also worked out several more wide receivers in private workouts and held meetings with a few quarterbacks as well. Dallas surprised by taking offensive lineman Tyler Smith in the first round last year, but the choice has panned out thus far.

The NFL’s top-30 visits are reserved for 30 prospects per team and do not involve on-field workouts. They serve as job interviews, on top of medical checkups and meetings with the coaching staff.

More on the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event location this year is the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft broadcast runs throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

Following two trades that cost them two fifth-round compensatory picks (No. 161, No. 169), these are the seven draft picks left on the Cowboys board for April.

• Round 1, No. 26
• Round 2, No. 58
• Round 3, No. 90
• Round 4, No. 128
• Round 5, No. 176*
• Round 6, No. 212*
• Round 7, No. 243

*denotes compensatory pick