The 2023 draft class was maybe the most talented group of players I have ever scouted, featuring a wide range of talents, and scouts shifting their boards up until the end. The battle between CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis for the top QB spot was dramatic, and scouts were constantly adjusting their boards up until draft day. But one thing that never changed on my draft board was Will Anderson Jr. being graded as the number one player in the draft.
From the moment Anderson arrived in Tuscaloosa, he made an impact, and the entire NFL draft community was buzzing. As a true freshman, Anderson logged seven sacks and 10.5 TFLs, and finished second on the team in sacks as the Crimson Tide went on to win the national championship. His burst off the edge was unmatched, and opposing offensive tackles could not keep up.
As a sophomore, Anderson lit the world on fire, finishing with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 TFLs, both of which led FBS on the season. He was unblockable, and despite the best efforts of offensive tackles and coaching staffs, Anderson still managed to ruin opposing game plans. His ability to get off the line of scrimmage was elite, and when he caught tackles on their heels, he was able to turn speed into power and get right into their chest to bull rush them back into the pocket. He won the Bronko Nagurski award in 2021 and then became the second player (Pat Fitzgareld) ever to win the award twice in 2022.
The name Will Anderson was everywhere, and many scouts had him slated to be the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. On my first big board, Anderson was my number one overall prospect in the draft, a title he held onto all the way through draft day. I graded Anderson as the third-best EDGE rusher I had ever scouted, with the only two ahead of him being former first overall picks Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. I argued Anderson should be the number one overall pick in the draft, and even in a class that was loaded at quarterback, Anderson was the most valuable player in the class.
At first, it appeared possible Anderson would be the number one overall pick in the draft, as the Bears held the first overall pick and had just selected Justin Fields with the 11th pick in the 2021 draft. But the Bears knew the value of their pick, sitting above the Texans, who needed a quarterback, and they auctioned it off, allowing the Panthers to trade up for their guy, Bryce Young. Anderson wound up being the third overall pick in the draft, heading to the Texans, who had just taken CJ Stroud at pick two.
So now you may be wondering, how does any of this relate to Arvell Reese in 2026? The reason is that Anderson has been undeniably the best player from the 2023 class and has dominated since day one. In a class that had four first-round calibre quarterbacks, Anderson still wound up being likely the most impactful player from the 2023 draft class. While we are only 2.5 years removed from the 2023 draft, Anderson has proven he is one of the best EDGE rushers in all of football and may very well have a DPOY award in his future.
That brings us back to this class, which has a far weaker QB class than the 2023 NFL draft. Arvell Reese has been the most dominant defensive player in college football, both as a linebacker and an EDGE rusher. Most analysts have him graded as the top player in the class, and his athletic profile is very similar to what we saw from Will Anderson Jr in 2023.
The Bears may be pleased to give up essentially Will Anderson Jr. to get both Caleb Williams and DJ Moore, but there was no guarantee they would pick number one overall in 2024. As for the top two picks, CJ Stroud has been outstanding, and Bryce Young is having a breakout season. I am willing to say that Anderson has been the more valuable player. Teams picking at the top of the 2026 draft MUST take note of Anderson’s success as well as the weakness of this year’s QB class and realize that Arvell Reese or Reuben Bain should be locks to go above the QBs in this year’s class.
