Will Anderson Jr. Has Unclear NFL Fit Despite College Stardom

The Alabama linebacker’s size and relative lack of explosiveness could lead him to dropping in the first round. Plus, the Packers and Eagles are among several teams who could trade down.

And we’re into the last 24 hours …

• What will Will Anderson Jr. be as a pro?

It depends on who you ask.

“I think unless you’re a true 34 defense, he’s more of a DPR,” said one coach, using the shorthand for designated, or situational, pass rusher. “It’s hard unless you play him as outside linebacker, or a crash-9 or wide-9 defensive end, where you can keep him away from the tight ends.”

That relates back to Anderson’s size. He’s 6' 3 1/2“ and 253 pounds and doesn’t have the same explosiveness/suddenness that top-shelf guys his size (Von Miller would be one who’s in the same size ballpark) have had, making him a harder player to project.

That said, he’s still the guy who had 34.5 sacks in three years at Alabama and, by all accounts, is a boy scout off the field, and a tough, edgy, high-motor monster on it. Take him, and you’ll probably get a good player at a baseline. Will he be a great one? Or is he maxed out to the point where what you see is what you get? That’s the question teams have been trying to answer. And why he isn’t a slam dunk to be the second or third pick.

Will Anderson Jr. excelled during his time at Alabama, but there are concerns over whether his athleticism will translate into the same sort of dominance in the NFL :: Gary Cosby Jr./USA TODAY Sports

• As for the guy jockeying for position with Anderson, Texas Tech DE Tyree Wilson’s case is an interesting one. I have him going second to the Texans, and the consensus is that he has a higher ceiling than the Bama star or any other pass rusher in this year’s draft this side of Jalen Carter. The question with him is where teams are at on his foot injury.

Most I’ve talked to are O.K. with the foot, with doctors saying he’ll be limited through spring camps and into summer. The thought is it’s a short-term issue, though foot injuries can be tricky.

If I had to nail it down, I’d say he’s going somewhere between No. 2 and No. 8.

• The Titans have been active in calling around—and while the bulk of their calls, it seems, have been to go down, there have been some made on going up. On the latter inquiries, it could be for a quarterback (if it’s way up), but it also could be for a tackle. And Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel should be able to get pretty good information on a couple of guys who’d be in that mix out of his alma mater.

• Always intriguing to hear what teams are interested in the same guys, and such is the case with the Giants and Chiefs leading up to tomorrow, with both linked in NFL circles to Boston College WR Zay Flowers and Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs. I’ve also heard the Ravens and Vikings connected to Flowers, and the Bills and Bengals tied to Gibbs, with both being intriguing jacks of all trades for creative offensive coordinators. Both should go Thursday.

• The Commanders’ decision on declining Chase Young’s fifth-year option is logical. Young’s knee injury was pretty catastrophic. The option number is $17.452 million. The defensive end tag number this was $19.73 million. The latter should be a little higher next year, but the difference between the two is negligible to get injury insurance on a player who, if he regains the form he had as a rookie, could command $30 million per on a second contract.

• While we’re there, I mentioned the Commanders and quarterbacks in the mock this morning, and I’d reiterate that I really don’t see them taking one Thursday night. They’re very solidly behind Sam Howell as starter, and the path to getting there went all the way back to camp last year—with top exec Marty Hurney among those early to tell others the team felt like it struck gold in the fifth round. I’m usually skeptical in these situations. But Washington’s rolling with Howell.

The Commanders seem content to move forward with 2022 fifth-round pick Sam Howell under center after he led the team to victory against the Cowboys in his only start to finish off the season :: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports

• There’s a little something instructive about the Howell case, too. Listen to one AFC GM on it, and it’ll make sense: “I think [Will] Levis is better than people give him credit for—his film from ’21 when he had better linemen, better receivers, was much better. Sam Howell was the same way, he was no worse than a high second coming out of [the 2020 season], and then he winds up in the fifth round because he lost so much around him.” Just something to consider, especially if Howell hits and Levis looks good as a rookie (wherever he goes).

• Throw the Packers into the pile of teams that would consider moving back tomorrow night, after the Aaron Rodgers trade bumped them up a couple of spots to No. 13. I’ve heard Green Bay linked to both of the top tight ends in the class—Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer and Utah’s Dalton Kincade—and 13 would probably be a tad high for either of them.

• It’s well-established that the Eagles could move down from Nos. 10 or 30, with GM Howie Roseman being one of the draft’s most skilled on-the-clock movers. But I’m told they’ve also at least explored what it would take to move up with teams in front of them. It still seems sort of unlikely, since Philadelphia’s got just six picks, I don’t know who it’d be for, and Roseman’s always aggressive about checking in with other clubs before the draft. Still, worth noting.

• Last year, just about everyone loved Washington CB Trent McDuffie, who more or less threw a perfect game through the predraft process, and wound up starting for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. I’m not there on him yet, but Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon is drawing similar reviews with teams I’ve talked to, which is one reason I see him going within the first six or seven picks. The only drawback with Witherspoon is size.

• Another size-deficient corner I’m hearing really good things on leading up to tomorrow: Mississippi State CB Emmanuel Forbes. He could sneak into the bottom of the first round.