Will Anderson – Edge – 21 years old – Junior – Alabama
Height: 1m93
Weight: 114 kg
Estimated Draft Position: Top 5
2022 stats: 51 tackles including 10 sacks
NFL Comparison: Von Miller (Bills)
Coveted high school student (17th national) then Freshman All SEC 1st Team then 17.5 sacks his sophomore season! Will Anderson is steeped in talent and that’s nothing new (see tweet at end of article).
His talent coupled with his position on the field make him a probable choice of the top 5 of the 2023 draft. Possibly the number 1!
Strong points
– Explosive
– Violent
Will Anderson is this type of athlete who explodes from the starting blocks as soon as the ball is engaged. It is a nightmare for the offensive linemen. At each game, they must be ready because this feline will attack them: and it will happen very quickly!
Quickly and violently too! Will Anderson doesn’t have the most intimidating physique for his position. So he takes pleasure in attacking someone smaller than him! Quarterbacks and runners are never stopped: they are crushed.
Weak points
– range of moves
Will Anderson explodes as soon as the ball is engaged, then his flexibility makes the difference. Able to pass one of these arms over that of the offensive lineman (swim move), he will however have to develop other techniques so as not to be predictable.
If he is sometimes decked out with the term “light” for the position of defensive end, in fact Will Anderson very often manages to push his opponent or get rid of him when he tries to contain him. Will Anderson’s lack of size is the argument of those who cannot find a fault with him: you have to give him one to be serious! But in truth Will Anderson shows no power deficit.
The stat
27.5 sacks over his last two seasons
In a defense organized in 43 or 34, he will be asked exactly the same thing: put pressure on the quarterback. With 27.5 sacks in 2021 and 2022 (0.98 per game), over 17 NFL games that would be 16.5 sacks per regular season!
Possible destinations
Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons
Since the 2016 draft, nine DE/Edge have been drafted in the top 5. If Myles Garrett (Browns/2017) and Nick Bosa (49ers/2019) can be rated with an A+ and Clelin Ferrell with a D (Raiders/2019) , Will Anderson’s potential seems to correspond to a grade between A- and B+.
Bama commit Will Anderson vs the no. 1 OT in the country Paris Johnson. pic.twitter.com/dpI0P18pt1
—Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) December 31, 2019
