Pros and cons of Houston Texans picking Alabama football's Will Anderson in 2023 NFL Draft
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. was selected No. 3 overall by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday. The Texans, coached by another former Alabama linebacker in DeMeco Ryans, selected Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick, then traded with the Arizona Cardinals to move up to the No. 3 selection to take the Crimson Tide's star pass rusher.
Anderson (6-foot-3, 253 pounds) is considered the draft's top pass rusher, blending the quickness, power and advanced pass-rush moves necessary to beat offensive tackles in a variety of ways. He is college football's most decorated defender over the last two years, even earning a fifth-place finish for the Heisman Trophy in 2021. He's also collected two Bronko Nagurski trophies and won the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player, the Lombardi Award as the nation's top lineman, and the LOTT Impact Award, which includes character and community service in its criteria, as well.
The SEC Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American notched 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss as a junior last fall, a highly productive season but a drop-off from his sophomore year, when he tallied 17.5 and 34.5, respectively. His 34.5 career sacks and 62 career tackles for loss both rank second in Alabama history behind Derrick Thomas.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein compares Anderson to nine-time Pro Bowl pass rusher DeMarcus Ware.
Anderson clocked a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Pro Football Focus ranks him the No. 3 overall prospect in the draft.
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The positives
Anderson brings a premium skill at a premium position. He can overwhelm offensive tackles with a lightning-quick first step that puts him at an advantage before the tackle can set an anchor. When he can't win with quickness, he's got the ability to shrink the pocket with a bull rush despite being relatively light for that kind of work. He's got a knack for big plays against either run or pass. In terms of leadership, he was the heart of Alabama's defense for two seasons and was named a permanent captain in a vote by his teammates.
The concerns
As a pass rusher, scouts cite hand usage as one of the only areas in which he can refine his game. In over 2,200 career snaps, he lined up off the ball on only 35 of them, so if he's asked to do so more in the NFL, that will be an adjustment. But it's his edge-rushing skills that make him one of the draft's top prizes, so he won't be playing off the ball anytime soon.
Final thought
Anderson figures to be an immediate impact player and a day-one frontrunner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He'll waste no time establishing himself as a pass-rushing presence on third down, and plays the run well enough to be an every-down starter. He has every character intangible to be a locker room asset as well.
Reach Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Houston Texans pick Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. in 2023 NFL Draft
