Todd McShay, Mel Kiper Jr have major disagreement on Will Anderson draft position
ESPN draft experts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr had a major disagreement while discussing the latest mock draft prediction for Will Anderson. McShay revealed his Mock Draft 3.0 predictions on Tuesday and listed the Alabama star as the third-overall pick to the Arizona Cardinals.
After starting the segment about Anderson by listing his praises as the “best defensive player in this draft,” McShay was left shocked by Kiper’s take on the draft pick. According to Kiper the former Alabama pass rusher is a safe pick, but not a special one.
Todd McShay and Mel Kiper disagree on Will Anderson
“Arizona is hoping that a quarterback goes number one, some team goes up to go get Bryce Young… so they can get Will Anderson, the best defensive player in this draft,” said McShay.
“34 and a half sacks, 184 pressures over a three-year span. Everyone said this past year, ‘well the production was down.’ Well there was no player on defense in the country who had more slide protections, chips, double teams on him… and he still was productive. So this guy is powerful, he is stronger than people think. He is quick, he’s explosive. I think he’s gonna be a special edge rusher and he is NFL ready right now.”
When Kiper chimed in on the decision to pick Anderson at the number three spot, he indicated that teams should be interested in trading down to later in the draft instead of being sold on Anderson as the premier defensive option.
“Todd talks about special, I don’t see that with Will Anderson Jr. in terms of being the best pass rusher in the NFL. I think he’s a safe pick, I don’t think it’s spectacular. I don’t see him as a Nick Bosa, certainly not a Myles Garrett or a Von Miller. I don’t see the bend, I don’t see the explosiveness,” explained Kiper.
“Can he be a 10 to 12 sack a year guy? Yeah, that would really be more than acceptable for Will Anderson Jr. He gives you everything he has, great work ethic… I didn’t like the fact that over the last two years [he had] zero forced fumbles, not getting strip sacks.
“I’m not seeing a guy special as a pass rusher, but solid, reliable, consistent… I think that’s what you’re getting.”
McShay voiced his disagreement with Kiper’s opinion quickly, calling out that Kiper’s argument against Anderson was the kind of player that does deserve number one overall considerations.
“We’re watching different tape, first of all. Second of all, if you give me 10 to 12 sacks every year I’m very happy taking him number one or number three,” responded McShay.