The 2023 NFL Draft is dominated by overlapping storylines, but ultimately, the conversation surrounding the best defensive player is what sets the board in motion. Who is the premier defensive prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft: Is it Jalen Carter, Will Anderson Jr., or someone else?
Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter Are the Best Defensive Players in the NFL Draft
I’d love to step up to the podium and make a definitive stand for one specific player. I’d love to find a hill to die on, but as an NFL draft analyst, I have to be honest. There isn’t one definitive “best” defensive player in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Instead, there are two prime contenders: Alabama EDGE Will Anderson Jr. and Georgia DT Jalen Carter.
There are other defensive prospects who deserve recognition as members of the highest echelon. But talk to a host of draft analysts and scouts, and most will agree that Anderson and Carter are a cut above the rest.
On my own grading scale, Anderson and Carter are two of just three prospects in the blue-chip tier this year, along with Texas running back Bijan Robinson. Each grade and report of Carter and Anderson is more so an appreciation for the awe-inspiring tools they each bring to the fold.
Carter is an absolute wrecking ball on the interior. He has a lot of appealing qualities as a defensive catalyst, but the foundational framework of his game is his mix of instant explosiveness, natural leverage, proportional length, and devastating power capacity in tight quarters.
Carter’s blend of athleticism and strength yields an extremely destructive output for opposing blocks, but Anderson provides a similar brand of game-changing ability. Anderson generated jaw-dropping numbers at Alabama, with 34.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for loss in three seasons. He’s a bit light, but he’s a high-cut, long-limbed defender with insane power capacity and lower body drive for his size. He also doubles as an elite athlete with blistering lateral agility, burst off the ball, and a searing motor.
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Naturally, Carter and Anderson provide different net impacts. Carter is your disruptive 3-tech who can generate instant pressure up the middle and violently stack and shed in run support. Anderson is your menace off the edge, who can rush the passer 1-on-1, stunt inside with his lateral agility and power, and wreak havoc in pursuit.
Anderson might be a bit more versatile with his ability to stunt inside and chase down plays, but both players are quantifiably elite in the roles they play.
Unfortunately, another aspect of this conversation is the off-field element. Recently, during the NFL Combine, it was revealed that Carter was the subject of an arrest warrant for misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing, relating to a crash that killed a Georgia teammate and staffer.
It’s important not to make sweeping judgments of Carter’s character before all the details are visible and understood. But regardless, Carter’s connection — even if indirect — to that deadly car crash may not be inconsequential in the lens of the 2023 NFL Draft. Each NFL team does its own study on each prospect’s character and background, and some may feel uneasy about taking Carter in the blue-chip range, where his film demands.
Ultimately, Anderson and Carter are both blue-chip talents on the field, at premier positions with premium value in the modern NFL. As prospects and as value propositions, they’re extremely close — close enough where off-field uncertainty, in Carter’s case, could give Anderson the edge for teams.
Notable Mentions Include Brian Branch, Christian Gonzalez
Anderson and Carter are the best two defensive prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. But they’re not the only ones who deserve consideration in the top 10. On the defensive line, there are a few more prospects who’ve frequently been mocked in the top range.
Clemson’s Myles Murphy and Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson both have overwhelming power profiles. But the next two highest-graded defenders for me aren’t on the defensive line. They’re in the secondary.
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch and Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez aren’t quite at the level of Carter and Anderson, but they’re close. Both are phenomenal 2023 NFL Draft prospects, with the upside to becoming undisputed stars at the next level.
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Branch is an elite slot defender, who brings heightened appeal in both phases — against the pass and the run. He’s a supremely physical defender and an incredibly sure tackler, but also a hyper-fluid and energetic athlete with the closing speed, agility, and instincts to swallow up receivers in coverage.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, is a size-speed freak at 6’2″, 200 pounds, with the combined length, explosiveness, long speed, and smooth fluidity to lock down receivers on the boundary. His physical gifts are top-tier, and this past season, he displayed high-level reaction quickness, ball skills, and zone awareness as well.