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Will Anderson Jr. NFL Draft scouting report: Why Alabama edge rusher is considered elite prospect

04-26-2023
4 min read
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Where there's a Will, there's a pass rush monster.

Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson is expected to be a top-five pick come the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and with good reason; Anderson is one of the best defensive players in the draft, and one of the best all-around players in the country eligible this year.

Anderson finished out a stellar college career with 34 1/2 sacks over three seasons (41 games) with the Crimson Tide. Those numbers, in the SEC, for one of the preeminent programs in the country, make for a tantalizing prospect for any team in the top 10 to consider.

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Anderson is as surefire, can't-miss as it gets. Here's why:

Will Anderson scouting report

With his size and length, Anderson is best suited to play in a 3-4 scheme, allowing him to play a bit more outside so he can utilize his speed to make up for some size deficiencies. 

Where Anderson doesn't stack up is on the scale: At 6-3 and 253 pounds, he has decent size, though that falls behind some of the physical freaks of years past. RAS labels this as a "poor" size for his position, and it does sit behind some other edge prospects in this year's draft (Tyree Wilson, Myles Murphy).

That said, TSN's Vinnie Iyer has Anderson as the No. 2 player overall on his big board, sitting just behind Alabama teammate Bryce Young:

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Anderson is a freakish combination of strength, power, quickness and explosiveness. He has put it all together for top-flight production and is both relentless and technically sound. He will be hard to pass up at No. 1 overall, even vs. a franchise QB.

Anderson was an elite high school recruit and saw it through three years in Alabama, as one of the country's elite defensive prospects.

Will Anderson stats

Over three seasons, Anderson racked up 34 1/2 sacks with the Crimson Tide, winning the Bronko Nagurski award as the nation's best defensive player in 2021 and 2022. He's also a two-time SEC defensive player of the year, winning in both 2021 and 2022.

Here's how Anderson's stats break down over his three years at Alabama:

Year Games Tackles (Solo) Tackles (Assisted) Total tackles Sacks
2020 13 34 18 52 7
2021 15 56 45 101 17.5
2022 13 24 27 51 10

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Will Anderson mock draft

Anderson won't have to wait long to hear his name called on April 27. Here's where he could land:

Cardinals (No. 3): Arizona will be the first non-QB-needy team to make a selection come the first round. New head coach Jonathan Gannon has had a history of flipping his defensive scheme from 4-3 to 3-4 and back, so Anderson makes for a fit in Arizona.

Seahawks (No. 5): The Seahawks use a 3-4 base front and are still looking for a true pass-rush threat since trading away Frank Clark. Anderson is a seemingly seamless fit.

Falcons (No. 8): The Falcons run a base 3-4 defense, and Grady Jarrett could really use some outside help. Atlanta hasn't had a game-breaking edge since John Abraham donned the red and black.