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Jalen Carter vs. Will Anderson: Who should be the Chicago Bears' No. 1 target in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Kevin Kaduk

December 14, 2022

The Chicago Bears still have four games remaining, but the attention of many fans has already turned to the 2023 NFL Draft next spring.

The Bears currently hold the third overall spot in the draft with a 3-10 record. And with Justin Fields looking like a franchise cornerstone, GM Ryan Poles will likely opt to improve the team’s flagging front seven.

Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. currently top most projections at the position and will center many draft debates we’ll be holding over the next few months.

NFL.com draft expert Eric Edholm was on Tuesday’s edition of the CHGO Bears Podcast and was asked which player he’d rather select.

From the sounds of it, Edholm believes Carter is a better fit for the Bears going forward considering both Carter’s talent and the depth of edge rusher in this upcoming draft:

“It’s a tough (decision),” Edholm said. “You can look two dimensionally at this draft and say that edge as a whole is stronger that defensive interior.

“I would say there’s a higher possibility for the Bears to swing back later and grab a pass rusher. Are any of them going to be as good as Will Anderson? Likely not. But at the same time if you want to do it that way, I would have no problem with that.

On Jalen Carter’s fit with the Bears

“I think Jalen Carter is spectacular. I know there’s been a little bit of ho-humming because of his stats or whatnot. He’s never going to be a massive stats guy but I think he’ll be a good one. I’ve sort of compared him role-wise to Chris Jones of Kansas City. Jones is a little bigger, a little longer, maybe a little more positional flexibility. But the same kind of scheme wrecker inside. We know how valuable those are. I think as the league cycles back to being more run-heavy than it has been in the last 10 years, it certainly helps to have someone at that 3-tech fans. I’m a big Carter fan.

On Will Anderson’s fit with the Bears

I think Will Anderson could be as good be as Von MIller has been if everything works out perfectly. It depends on what Matt Eberflus and Company think is most crucial to that style of defense. I would be fine with either but don’t overlook Carter. I really think he’s a dude.”

Watch the full CHGO Bears Podcast episode with NFL.com’s Eric Edholm here.