Will Anderson Is Bears Starting Point

If the draft goes through the Bears, it also goes first through consensus top talent Will Anderson Jr., Alabama's edge rusher.

The Bears' path in the draft starts first with Will Anderson Jr.

It's either draft him first or trade down, and then any number of things can happen with a move out of the top spot.

Teams talk every year about trading out of the top spot, yet only once in the last 18 drafts has it happened and this was in 2016. The ability to take a special player isn't one to take lightly.

So it's critical what GM Ryan Pace and Co. get can out of their meetings with the top pick both at the combine and pro day, also if or rather when he is invited to Halas Hall.

One major concern with any player is adapting to a defensive scheme and with Anderson the Bears would have a player used to a different type of approach. He was used more as a traditional outside linebacker in a 3-4, but he doesn't view fitting into the Bears scheme as a problem. His 40-yard dash time of 4.60 seconds Thursday evening suggests he can, and he has put on 10 pound since season's end to come in 253 pounds.

"I feel like football is all about embracing a change so, you know no matter what type of defense I get in I'm going to adapt to it and I'm going to be able to embrace the change," the Alabama edge rusher told reporters at the combine. "Embrace the challenges there and learn lessons that go within and that's what I'm really excited about- whatever defense I get in learning how to operate throughout it and having fun doing it."

Here were the highlights of Anderson's media Q and A.

Toughest Player Faced in College: "Bijan Robinson, the running back from Texas. He was a big back. We had to game tackle him get all hats to the ball. He was going to break a few tackles we had to tackle him right away but he was probably the toughest person I played against in college."

His Signature Move: "Uh yeah, for me I like the forklift move. I like to watch Nick Bosa a lot. I like the way he likes to do his bull spike and stuff like that and I would like to implement that in to my game."

What It Would Mean Being Drafted First by Bears: "It would mean a lot you know, just like I said all my hard work paying off. You know and just to have that spot it's big time and I'm really appreciative if I will have that opportunity."

How the Meeting with Bears Went: "It went really good. You know we went in there watched a couple tape. Really just got to know me and I got to know them. The culture's great there and I can tell they are on to something special."

How Texans Meeting Went: "Like I said we went in there and watched tape. I am really excited about the Texans as well."

Thoughts on the Cardinals with Third Pick: "You can see what the coach did at Philadelphia. He got his guys on the edge going. That's something that I really like. Get on the edge and go so, very excited about that."

How He Maintains Humility in This Position: "One lady, Tereon Anderson, my mom. She's always going to keep me grounded."

How Do You Respond to Those Saying You're Undersized: "It's about what you have in here and that's what has carried me to this point in my life. Always know that whatever I have going on, my mentality, my mindset, it's not going to change. And that is what I approach during the week of practice, that's what I approach in the game."

How Having Five Sisters Shaped Him: "All my sisters played sports. They played basketball, they ran track and played volleyball. I watched them. I watched how they worked. Watched their work ethic. I took the good, I left the bad. Just watching the way they work. They put a lot into me, they have made a lot of sacrifices for me. Ran up and down the road. Gave me advice. Told me how things were going to go. So it's been great. So that is how they molded me into the athlete that I am today."

Where Can You Improve: "Just working in space. Working on my flexibility and mobility. This whole off season that's one of the things I have been working on my mobility and flexibility."

What Did You Learn About Yourself at Alabama: "Being at Alabama made me very versatile. Dropping in coverage. All that type of stuff. Helping me work, pass rush moves and run. So when I dissect myself I see myself as a versatile player who can do just about anything but that's thanks to coach (Nick) Saban you know. He trusted me a lot. He's seen a lot in me. The potential. It helped me mold the player I am today so when I look back at myself I feel like Alabama made me a very versatile player."

Feeling from Hearing Nick Saban Say You're Versatile: "Yeah for me, it gave me a lot of confidence, you know? Like I said he trusted in me he believed in me. You know he said 'Will you can go out there and do it.' It just made me go out there and do it 10 times harder because to have one of the world's greatest coaches telling me I trust in you, I believe you can do it, it gave me a lot of confidence."

What Makes a Great Pass Rusher: "What makes a great pass rusher and edge rusher is getting pressure on the quarterback and getting sacks, get him to get off his spot, throw interceptions, help other people make sacks, get him to throw incomplete balls out of bounds. That's what makes an efficient pass rusher. Just not getting sacks but affecting the quarterback in different ways."

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