Scout says Bears should take Anderson with top pick

Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Scout says Bears should look no further than Will Anderson with top pick

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Dec 31, 2022 4:38 PM ET

The Chicago Bears still have an outside chance at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but barring a crazy series of events, it seems likely the team will be picking in the top two.

With several positions needing addressed and nearly every top-tier player still available (sans whoever the Houston Texans take at No. 1), one NFL scout believes the Bears selection is a no-brainer.

“If I was going to take an edge guy, I would take Anderson in a second,” the anonymous national scout told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. “He is worthy of being the first pick, really. He is better than both of those dudes last year that went 1-2 (Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson).”

Will Anderson Jr is next up pic.twitter.com/ifacjIeLOM
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 27, 2022

There’s little question receiver and pass rusher are Chicago’s two biggest areas of need.

The Bears have the fewest receptions (203) and receiving yards (2,376) in the NFL; however, no receiver in the draft class appears worthy of a top-five selection.

Chicago’s 18 sacks and 146 QB pressures are also the fewest in the NFL. Rookie safety Jaquan Brisker leads the team with four sacks, and just 6.5 of the Bears’ sacks have come from defensive linemen.

Adding Anderson, who led the NCAA with 14 sacks, and he totaled the sixth-most QB pressures (59) and 11th-most QB hurries (36), according to Pro Football Focus, could instantly bring the Bears’ pass rush some respectability.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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