NFL mock draft: Finding a match for 5 Alabama stars

Will Anderson Jr. is one of two former Alabama stars worthy of going No. 1

There are only four players in the 2023 NFL Draft worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick. It just so happens that two of these four players are former Alabama stars. While we will get to the other guy in discussion for the No. 1 spot in just a second, Alabama’s best pass-rusher since the late, great Derrick Thomas could go No. 1. Yes, Will Anderson Jr. is that fantastic coming off the edge.

Admittedly, it is hard to see Anderson busting at the next level. He would have been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft had he been draft-eligible. However, the quarterback position always takes precedent in situations like these. There are two signal-callers worthy of being this year’s top overall selection. Therefore, we just might see Anderson drop to as low as No. 4 overall.

If Anderson makes it to No. 5, then something went most horribly wrong during the draft process.

Chicago Bears will trade down from No. 1, but could still end up with Anderson

Although the Chicago Bears have the No. 1 pick, they would be so beyond stupid to take a quarterback with that top overall selection. One of the few things they have gotten right as an organization over the last few years was trading up to No. 11 in a deal with the New York Giants to land former Ohio State star Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has shown signs he is the guy.

If the Bears were to stand pat and damn the torpedoes anyway, Anderson is the guy for them at No. 1. Of course, quarterback-desperate teams will want to trade up to the No. 1 spot. Chicago has rare leverage. Therefore, they have to use it to their advantage. However, the Bears cannot afford to fall any further than No. 4 to be in a realistic spot to draft the vaunted Alabama edge rusher.

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter is another player they could hone in on inside the top four.

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