Nov 12, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) pressures Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
As the Detroit Lions enter the stretch run of their 2023 pre-draft work, they’ve reportedly had Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson in for a top-30 visit.
This side of the quarterbacks, and maybe even including them for some people, Will Anderson might be the overall top prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Alabama edge rusher has been ordained to be a top pick in this year’s draft since a great freshman season, and he followed that by winning back-to-back Bronko Nagurski Awards–given each year to the top defensive player in the country.
Anderson may not fall out of the top five overall, but according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC-TV the Lions (who have the sixth overall pick, of course) have already had the former Crimson Tide star in for a top-30 visit. Anderson has also visited the Houston Texans.
After three years at Alabama, Anderson is second on the school’s all-time sacks list (34.5) and he added 58.5 tackles for loss. In 2021, he finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.
2023 NFL Draft: Is Will Anderson a fit for the Detroit Lions?
The Lions seem flush with edge rushers, after reworking the contracts of Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris rather than parting ways with one or both of them. But general manager Brad Holmes has noted how the Rams kept adding pieces to their defensive line without prejudice when he worked for them.
Anderson has all the ideal traits to make a seamless transition to being an elite NFL pass rusher in spades–athleticism, good size. good length and elite get-off. Perhaps just as importantly, as far as we know up to now, he has no red flags for teams to be concerned about. The comp for him from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein is a nice one–DeMarcus Ware.
The Lions will have another former Alabama defender in for a top-30 visit, with versatile safety Brian Branch scheduled to come in.
It make take a trade up to get Anderson. But the Lions’ brass is not going to be resigned to that without getting to know someone who may be the first non-quarterback drafted later this month.