Will Anderson scouting report: Everything to know about new Texans star

Will Anderson should be one of the first defensive players off the board in the 2023 NFL Draft and we’re breaking down the Alabama EDGE’s scouting report.

Once you finally are able to look past the quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft like Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis and C.J. Stroud, you get to a few elite defensive prospects. At the top of that list for many is Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.

Projected by many to potentially be the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after just his true sophomore season with the Crimson Tide in 2021, Anderson likely will get that honor taken by one of the QBs. But whichever team drafts him is going to be getting a top-tier pass-rusher.

So let’s take a look at the Will Anderson scouting report to see what type of player teams have the chance to take in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Will Anderson scouting report: Height, weight, 40 time and Alabama stats

At the NFL Combine, Will Anderson measured in at 6-foot-3.5 and 253 pounds. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds, which isn’t an incredible time but, for a player at his size, is still a solid time, especially with a solid 1.61-second 10-yard split. He didn’t run the 3-cone drill, but showed well in those drills later in the process.

Over three seasons and 41 games at Alabama, Anderson was a dominant force who accounted for 27 sacks, including 15 in 2021 and 14 in 2022. He was the nation’s leader in tackles for loss in 2021 and accounted for more than 130 hurries in his college career as well.

Will Anderson scouting report: Biggest strengths

There’s so much to love about the Alabama star and it begins when he begins his rush. The explosiveness off the line is jarring as it seems like he’s already in a tackle’s ear before the quarterback has the ball in his hands fully from the snap. Moreover, he bends beautifully off the edge, which gives him the ability to set the edge and get to the passer.

For as good of a pass-rusher as he is, though, the underrated aspect of Anderson’s game is that he should be an elite run defender. He never gets himself out of the play and has clear instincts for finding the football and making a play on it whether it’s a run or pass play from the offense.

Will Anderson scouting report: Biggest weaknesses

Some have criticized Anderson’s pass-rush arsenal, so that is a weakness some have mentioned, but I saw flashes of a developed player for his age, so that’s not a concern for me. The two big things that stand out as possible concerns is that he’s not a freakish athlete or overly forceful player on the edge. Moreover, he offers limited versatility in that he likely won’t be able to kick inside. He’s very much a pure EDGE player and that’s it, for better or worse.

Will Anderson pro comparison

There are a lot of names that get thrown around for Will Anderson as a player comparison but my favorite of the bunch is current Bills pass rusher Von Miller. Much like Miller, Anderson is a good athlete who can win with explosiveness and quickness — but he doesn’t rely on that solely. He’s a well-versed rusher with an arsenal of moves and the ability to convert speed to power and just straight-up bull rush linemen and tight ends to win with ease.