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Ranking the Bears’ 3 best options with the No. 1 pick

By Cody Williams

Oct 2, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus watches quarterback Justin Fields (1) warm up before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus watches quarterback Justin Fields (1) warm up before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Bears, 2023 NFL Draft
Will Anderson Jr., Chicago Bears (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Bears best options with No. 1 pick in 2023 NFL Draft – No. 2: Select Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr.

More in line with the positional value of the top overall pick in the draft, the other area of the defensive front that is extremely lacking in Chicago is the edge rusher spot. Under the previous regime, there was obviously a focus placed on addressing this but the argument could be made that the Khalil Mack trade along with decisions made around Leonard Floyd, Robert Quinn and others were all misguided.

With Mack now in Los Angeles and with no true game-changer on the edge to speak of now for the Bears, though, that changes the calculus for the franchise and puts Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. squarely into focus for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Anderson lit the college football world on fire in the 2021 season as he almost racked up 20 sacks off the edge for the Crimson Tide and was pushing 30 tackles for loss. He didn’t match those numbers in his final season at Alabama but still had double-digit sacks despite having more focus from opposing offenses placed on stopping him game-in and game-out.

As he projects to the next level, however, Anderson looks the part of an elite prospect who has terrific bend, great burst and athleticism and a pass-rushing repertoire that continues to develop impressively. He could be a superstar for the Bears at an area of need, even if selecting him still isn’t the best option for the organization.

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