Will Anderson Jr. 2023 NFL Draft Profile
One of the most prolific college players in recent memory hits the NFL Draft in April, and his name is Will Anderson Jr.
The Alabama standout made his presence felt immediately upon stepping into campus, recording seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Nicknamed “The Terminator” in 2021, he would become arguably the most dominant defender in the country, we will discuss this soon. What does the draft profile look like for Anderson? Let’s talk about it.
2021 was exceptional for Will Anderson Jr. 17.5 sacks to lead the country, Bronko Nagurski award winner (top defender in college football), SEC Defensive Player of the Year, All-American and All-SEC honors. He was also snubbed of the Heisman, if we’re being honest. He came back down to earth in 2022 with a measly 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Simply put, Anderson is a game wrecker in every aspect.
Trey noted in his article scouting the linebackers at the combine that Anderson ran well with an exceptional split. Caught the ball well in drills but didn’t really excel in others, which isn’t a knock.
The list of strengths is a laundry list. Where do we begin? Anderson has big-time speed off the edge. Setting the edge is not an issue. He isn’t just a one-trick pony as well when it comes to rushing the quarterback. That bag of pass-rush moves runs deep with his best move arguably being his spin move. Anderson has great change of direction, which in the NFL will suit him well. His hips certainly don’t lie. He has the prototypical build for today’s NFL for the EDGE, coming in at 6’3 1/2 and 253 lbs. Anderson more than holds his own in run defense as well. He wasn’t asked to drop into coverage a lot at Alabama, but when he did I think he performed surprisingly well.
The list of negatives for Will Anderson Jr. is not long. He, at times, is too upright when rushing the passer. The game tape against Tennessee’s Darnell Wright highlights this. While his motor does run often, it isn’t always running.
Will Anderson Jr. not only receives a first-round grade, but he also should not fall out of the top five. He is head and shoulders above the rest of the EDGE rushers in this class and has the skills to make an immediate impact for whichever NFL team he lands with. Turning in the card for Anderson should get teams excited.
