Will Anderson Jr., EDGE Alabama: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Anderson was a five-star recruit from Dutchtown High School in Hampton, Ga. in the class of 2020

Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is the closest thing to a generational talent in the 2023 NFL Draft class. I wouldn’t apply the “generational” tag to the rising junior just yet, but Anderson’s success over his first two seasons suggests he’ll go down as one of the best players to ever take the field for Nick Saban.

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Will Anderson Jr., EDGE Alabama: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior outside linebacker from Hampton, Ga.

Background: Anderson was a five-star recruit from Dutchtown High School in Hampton, Ga. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 17 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 22 for Rivals, and No. 18 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 49th (four-star) in the nation with an 85 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, Anderson produced 22 sacks and 15 tackles for loss on a defense that allowed just 7.7 points per game. He was selected to participate in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Anderson committed to Alabama over other SEC programs like Auburn and LSU.

2021 Production: 15 games, 101 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 82 pressures, 17.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed

2020 Production: 13 games, 52 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 60 pressures, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Injuries & Off-Field: Exited Mercer (2021) game early with a leg injury

Awards: 2020 Freshman All-SEC, 2020 Freshman All-American, 2020 Shaun Alexander-FWAA Freshman of the Year, 2021 First-Team All-SEC, 2021 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, 2021 Consensus All-American, 2021 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winner

Pros: Special teams experience on field goal block, punt return, punt coverage, and kick return units, sets a hard edge against tight ends, blows tight ends backward in the running game, over 100 zone coverage snaps, long arms, offensive linemen that go low rarely land meaningful blocks on him, explosive first step, times the snap masterfully, quickness around the outside is mind-blowing, pulling linemen never reach him in time, running backs and tight ends barely slow him down, speed and motor to chase wide receiver and running back screens on his side of the field, quick enough that he arrived in time to disrupt several QB-RB exchanges, bends and flattens the top of his rush, he’s too quick for guards and wins their inside/outside shoulders, heavy and active hands to stun blockers and rip past them, plays with good leverage, some slippery traits to get between double teams, usually maintains balance throughout the play, converts speed to power

Cons: Maybe ten pounds lighter than ideal OLB size, needs to get his hands up for PBUs at the line, double-digit missed tackles in 2020 and 2021, sometimes takes the eye candy on RPOs, struggled with power against Georgia’s tackles in the SEC Championship Game (2021), occasionally sells out for the pass and gets surprised by the run, defensive stunts actually sap some of his explosive get-off, would like to see more wins to the tackle’s inside shoulder, sometimes lets himself get sealed outside or inside on running plays, doesn’t consistently pursue the ball carrier 10+ yards downfield, bend isn’t consistently elite, pass rush toolbox needs greater diversity and more counters

Overview: Anderson is unofficially listed at 6'4", 243 lbs. The true junior generated a 16.7% pressure rate in 2020 and a 17% pressure rate in 2021, displaying consistent production at an elite level. His elite burst off the line of scrimmage leads to him winning around the edge frequently. When he doesn’t win from the jump, Anderson has the heavy hands and arm length to play through a lineman and bend around him. Anderson is also a high-end run defender. Despite his weight, the Georgia native does an excellent job setting the edge and anchoring in his space. He possesses the initial quickness to beat pulling blockers and meet the running back behind the line of scrimmage. Anderson also shows the ability to separate from his blocker and redirect to the football. His strength stuns blocking tight ends and running backs, who often go backward at first contact. There are some instances where Anderson struggles to handle a tackle’s power in pass protection. He will benefit from adding more moves and counters to his arsenal, which is still heavily reliant on his physical traits.

Overall, I wouldn’t quite drop the overused “generational talent” tag on Anderson just yet, but it’s clear he’s the top dog in this draft class. He mixes a combination of elite get-off, play strength, and bend to perform at an elite level as a pass rusher and run-stopper. If Anderson was eligible, he would’ve gone first overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Role & Scheme Fit: Outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme

Round Projection: Top Five Selection

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 08-20-22