VDT: Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. Has All-Pro Potential
Josh Frey
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If you want to find a player with the smoothest transition to NFL stardom in this draft class, look no further than Alabama EDGE Will Anderson. He has been a ferocious pass rusher throughout his career with Alabama, setting records all over the place. Today, as part of the Vikings Draft Thermometer series, we are going to break down why he looks like one of the most promising prospects in recent memory.
Background
- Height: 6′ 3 1/2″
- Weight: 253 pounds
- Arm Length: 33 7/8″
- Hand Size: 9 7/8″
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.60 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.61 seconds
- School: Alabama
- Games Watched: Vanderbilt (2022), Tennessee (2022), LSU (2022), Auburn (2022)
Statistics
- 2020: 52 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble (13 games)
- 2021: 101 tackles, 31 TFLs, 17.5 sacks, 3 passes defended (15 games)
- 2022: 51 tackles, 17 TFLs, 10 sacks, 1 pass defended, 1 INT (13 games)
Strengths
Right off the bat, Anderson’s 2021 season was one of the most dominant campaigns we’ve ever seen from a defender, and the case could be made that he was just as worthy of Heisman consideration as his teammate Bryce Young. 31 TFLs and 17.5 sacks each led the NCAA by wide margins, and he pulled these numbers off in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
Anderson is very good athlete despite being 250+ pounds and combines that athleticism with power that overwhelms smaller tackles. He beats offensive linemen with a litany of intricate moves and constantly has opponents guessing as to what he’s going to do next. If he gets matched up on a tight end, it’s game over for the opponent.
Everything Anderson accomplishes couldn’t be done without extreme efficiency throughout the rep. He explodes off the line, has buttery smooth lateral movements, and uses his length to get the leverage advantage.
Weaknesses
There really aren’t many concerns with Anderson that could turn him into a below-average player. He seems destined for success at the NFL, but it did feel like he got bored at times in 2022. There were certainly instances where he didn’t bring the same intensity to snaps that he did during 2021, but this will very likely get cleared up as he tries to establish himself at the next level.
In terms of actual play, lengthier tackles could pose a problem for him. If you watch the Tennessee game against Darnell Wright (a likely top-50 pick in this spring’s draft), the lack of ability to consistently win the leverage battle posed issues throughout the game. This will simply be a learning process for him as he gets used to the NFL game and learns the tricks that pass-rushers have used for years.
NFL Projection
- Draft Round: Top 5
- Immediate Role: Starting EDGE
- Best-Case Scenario: Healthy Myles Garrett
- Vikings Draft Temperature: 0
There is very little chance that Will Anderson finds a way outside of the top 5 in this draft, especially with Jalen Carter’s recent fall due to his off-the-field concerns. Even if the Vikings found a way to trade into that top 5, they’d more than likely be trading up for a QB rather than an EDGE. I don’t see any chance that Anderson suits up for the Vikings next season, even though he may be the most sure-thing prospect in this class.
Josh Frey’s 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.