The odds are favorable that the Chicago Bears will hold the #1 or #2 pick by the end of business on Sunday. It will give them premium placement in the 2023 draft. GM Ryan Poles will have a chance to do one of two things. He can look to trade down, handing the slot to a QB-needy team in exchange for a large cache of extra picks. Or he can take the best player on the board. Most agree it is a race between two defensive stalwarts in Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson and Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Both players have exceptional talent. Nobody disputes that. The challenge is figuring out who should be first off the board. Chicago lacks any credible presence on the edge after Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn left town. Anderson would fix that problem immediately. On the other hand, the three-technique defensive tackle spot is vital to Matt Eberflus’ 4-3 defense. It’s the engine that runs everything. Thus Carter would look like an obvious choice.
That led to an interesting question. What do draft experts think? Not so much who they think the Bears will pick, but who is the better prospect. After some quick research across draft rankings and big board, there isn’t any hint of a debate. The choice should be obvious if Poles has both in front of him.
- Bleacher Report: Will Anderson
- Dane Brugler (The Athletic): Will Anderson
- Pro Football Focus: Will Anderson
- Sporting News: Will Anderson
- Drafttek: Will Anderson
- Draft Network: Will Anderson
- Tankathon: Will Anderson
- Pro Football Network: Will Anderson
Will Anderson is far more proven than Carter.
Nobody argues the Georgia defensive tackle is a freakish specimen. There are flashes on tape that make your jaw drop at times. The problem is these flashes aren’t frequent enough. It reflects in his production. Carter only has six sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss in two years. Anderson has 27.5 sacks and 48 tackles for a loss. He shows up in both key areas. His tape is excellent, and the stats back it up. When that happens, it’s a fair assumption you have somebody that will thrive in the NFL. Scheme fit shouldn’t matter. Take the best player.
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The decision will ultimately fall to Poles. He has the final say. It won’t be surprising if Eberflus and defensive coordinator Alan Williams fall in love with Carter. He is exactly what they need for that system they run. Then again, the Bears could solve the problem in free agency with top talents like Da’Ron Payne and Dre’Mont Jones potentially available. If either signs in Chicago, then drafting Will Anderson becomes a no-brainer.
