One year ago, it wasn't even a question who the Hawks would pick in the draft if they had had their druthers and had he been available: Will Anderson. Not really knowing who he was and watching Alabama play last year, I was like "who in the hell is this guy?" He stuck out to my eyes as much as any defensive player I can remember seeing. An absolute terror.
I still haven't gotten an adequate explanation why he backed off some this year stat-wise. I've heard some decent commonsensical explanations, but none that completely square with the beast I saw last year. I was thinking something along the lines of a Von Miller.
That's why I still lean a bit in his direction over Carter. I mean, Carter had 3 sacks this year from the interior, and Anderson had 17.5 sacks last year from the edge, not to mention his high solo tackles and tackles for loss totals. I can't seem to get Will Anderson of 2021 out of my mind.