With his power, quickness and instincts, Anderson is a rare prospect and a blocker's worst nightmare. He would have been drafted No. 1 in the 2022 NFL Draft if he were eligible and will be the first non-quarterback drafted next April barring injury or anything off the field.
Even with all the Georgia defenders who went in the first round of the 2022 draft, Carter might be the best prospect of them all. He's the kind of dominant interior presence who could be worthy of a top-five pick.
If (when?) the QBs fall, Anderson could be in contention to go first overall if he has another year like 2021, when he led the country in sacks (17.5) and tackles for loss (33.5) as a sophomore.
On that vaunted Georgia defense, Carter earned the highest pass-rushing grade (90.0). That also happened to be the highest of any Power Five defensive tackle. He's a twitchy 6-foot-3, 310-pounder you can pencil in at the top half of Round 1.
Our colleague Pete Prisco said it all weekend during the '22 NFL Draft: Jalen Carter might end up being the best player from that Georgia national championship squad. Just let that sink in for a moment.
After all the defensive talent that Georgia put into the NFL season, some believe the best prospect on last season's National Championship unit was Jalen Carter. He could pair with Quinnen Williams to give the Jets an exciting young defensive tackle duo.
In a 2023 NFL Draft with viable QB talent and after a 2022 NFL Draft without it, it's notable that the best player in the class is likely going to fall a few picks. Will Anderson Jr. would've been the top pick this past weekend and doesn't have much in way of warts to his game. He's as much of a freakish athlete as Jacksonville Jaguars' Travon Walker (1st overall) and he's got the polish and production of Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson (2nd overall).
The college football world saw a bit of what Jaxon Smith-Njigba can do during the 2021 Rose Bowl. After torching a depleted Utah secondary, Smith-Njigba returns with his quarterback to pair arguably the best QB-WR combination we've seen in some time.
Smith-Njigba has speed and size, quicks and hands. He's a well-rounded route runner and possesses an uncanny ability to find the open spot on defenses with no wasted motion.
I actually think the Jets will be pretty good next year after the insane Draft Joe Douglas and his staff just put together. With 4 picks in the top 36, they took my #3, #5, #16, & #27 players in the Draft in CB Sauce Gardner, EDGE Jermaine Johnson II, WR Garrett Wilson, and RB Breece Hall. Will Anderson Jr. would have been the clear cut #1 player in this draft and could contend for the #1 overall pick even in a QB-heavy year.