Welcome to SKOL Search!
This series will be your guide to the 2023 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.
The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at wide receiver, running back, cornerback and both interior and edge pass rusher.
The Vikings are slated to have four picks before compensatory selections are awarded and they need to make the most out of them.
Background
Will Anderson
- Alabama
- Height-6034
- Weight-253 lbs
- Third-year junior
- 5-Star recruit per 247 Sports
- Stats: 204 tackles, 114 solo, 34.5 sacks, 58.5 tackles for loss, 4 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception
- Games watched: Tennessee 2021, Texas 2022, Texas A&M 2022, Tennessee 2022, Kansas State 2022
Strengths
The production profile of Anderson is incredible. He was one of most productive players in all of college football. The production did take a turn downward this year, but that was mainly due to seeing a lot of double and triple teams.
What Anderson provides is a tremendous first step. He is very quick and disrupts plays like crazy. Here, he is so quick that he doesn’t have to read the mesh point. Rather, he just attacks and this is a common occurence.
If Anderson loses early on in the rep, he doesn’t give up. He has the ability to shed the block and continue after the quarterback. He displays that here against Tennessee.
Anderson has a lot of pass rush moves. He has uses speed-to-power, inside swim and club rip all with effectiveness.
He is a good run defender . Anderson isn’t just good, but also gives a lot of effort. That’s something that you don’t always get from a star pass rusher.
Nick Saban used Anderson a lot as a 5T and a shade 4i often, as well as having him drop into coverage. Not the best use of him, but Anderson is comfortable playing out of position and doing different things.
Weaknesses
Despite his excellent production and athleticism, Anderson still has some refining to do. His pass rush plan is very sporadic. He loves to go inside far too often and gets washed out easily. His size isn’t a major issue, but it will be with his affinity to counter inside.
Along with his inconsistent pass rush plan, his counters are the same. When he does use them, Anderson is often late and could use some more variety.
Overview
| Bend | 8.6/10 |
| Quickness/Burst | 14.3/15 |
| Finesse | 4.0/5 |
| Power | 4.1/5 |
| Counters | 7.9/10 |
| Awareness | 8.5/10 |
| Run Defense | 8.8/10 |
| Versatility | 9.1/10 |
| Size/Length | 13.2/15 |
| Tackling | 8.6/10 |
| Grade | 87.1/100 First Round |
Anderson is a really good player, but I have some real concerns about him becoming what some initially believed him to be: a top-tier pass rusher. I think he will be a great EDGE2/solid EDGE1 but never on the tier of the Myles Garrett’s and Nick Bosa’s.
