No option to trade down, so would you go Will Anderson or Jalen Carter?

[DVontel]

Say the Colts trade with the Bears, which pretty much guarantees us both Will Anderson & Jalen Carter on the board with Houston most likely going after the QB the Colts didn’t take.

Who would you rather go with & why?

This is no trade-back scenario.

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

I'd go Jalen Carter. Why? Cause he is disruptive, huge, requires a double team, pushes the middle of the pocket. Plus we drafted the 2 young edge rushers that showed promise to end the season. Carter would free Sanders & Thomas up a little bit. We haven't had a guy like Carter in the middle since Dockett.

 

[Minski]

Maybe someone (like @Harry) can do us a nice strengths and weaknesses list . For me I just want us to have picked the person that when they "re-do" the draft again in a few years our guy is the clear number 1 pick.

 

[Solar7]

I slightly lean Anderson. Mainly because I'm worried about how much time Carter can actually stay on the field. Both are phenomenal though.

 

[oaken1]

I would go Anderson.
Which is strange for me because i usually support the big men.

Wouldnt be mad either way though. Most likely a win/win type thing.

 

[Stout]

Anderson or trade down. I'm really not sold on Carter at this point. That may change, but I'm going to want Anderson over Carter 10 times out of 10 regardless.

 

[SteveKeimFan]

I'd go Jalen Carter. Why? Cause he is disruptive, huge, requires a double team, pushes the middle of the pocket. Plus we drafted the 2 young edge rushers that showed promise to end the season. Carter would free Sanders & Thomas up a little bit. We haven't had a guy like Carter in the middle since Dockett.

You mean like All decade player Calais Campbell who we stupidly let go

 

[Cardsfaninlouky]

You mean like All decade player Calais Campbell who we stupidly let go

No, he was a DE. Dockett was a stud DT. They worked off of one another though & we haven't had a DL even close to that since.

 

[eastcoastDave]

I’d draft defensive lineman in the 1st round. Second round would be an offensive lineman. I’d trade Hopkins for a high draft pick. (Would someone give a 1st for him? Doubt it.) I’d do this in every round of every draft until the Cards have the best offensive and defensive lines in the league.

 

[Zalixar]

Pass on Carter.

 

[gamebird98]

All depends what Vance wants to do.

 

[Zalixar]

All depends what Vance wants to do.

Hopefully his opinion won't matter too much longer.

 

[SoonerLou]

Anderson.

Franchise needs to go with the safer prospect. Although having Sean Payton would make me believe we'd have the structure for Carter.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Anderson. Especially if we continue with a 3-4.

Carters playing time will keep him off the field for 30 to 40% of the snaps and his technique will have to be upgraded to get him into the "always double teamed" category. Carter's physical gifts are insane. But Anderson's "get off" is Vonn Miller esque. I'd like to see him bend more but that's a nit pick at this point.

 

[Syracusecards]

Anderson. Edge rushers have the ability to change/win a game on every pass play.

The difference between elite edge rushers and all the other edge rushers is a wide gap. Whereas the difference between elite DT’s and average DT’s is not as wide and scheme can overcome that gap.

 

[TheCardFan]

Whichever one will be a consistent All-Pro.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I'd go Jalen Carter. Why? Cause he is disruptive, huge, requires a double team, pushes the middle of the pocket. Plus we drafted the 2 young edge rushers that showed promise to end the season. Carter would free Sanders & Thomas up a little bit. We haven't had a guy like Carter in the middle since Dockett.

He’s 6’3 300lbs, so he’s not really “huge.”

 

[Proximo]

Anderson

 

[GatorAZ]

Anderson was a #1 overall caliber prospect coming into the season but the production didn’t translate for whatever reason. I didn’t watch closely enough whether he was dogging it or just not winning his matchups.

Regarding Carter I just hate the idea of taking a DT that high that isn’t flawless like Suh was. I didn’t like the idea of Quinnen Williams either who flashed more than Carter did. The metric like him but I didn’t see it besides a few twitter clips.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Jalen Carter, I want a beast at the core of this defense

 

[football karma]

Carter has a lower floor but higher ceiling. Anderson a high floor, but lower ceiling

Carter may take a season or so to get to "impact" status. I feel like Anderson will do it from day 1.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Carter has a lower floor but higher ceiling. Anderson a high floor, but lower ceiling

Carter may take a season or so to get to "impact" status. I feel like Anderson will do it from day 1.

I am a big Carter guy, but I don't see how Anderson has a lower ceiling. If anything you have it backwards.

 

[Russ Smith]

I like them both but I think Anderson has the most immediate impact and is the least likely of the 2 to not pan out.

 

[slanidrac16]

It’s hard to pass on a potential Micah parsons/vonn miller type player.

 

[football karma]

I am a big Carter guy, but I don't see how Anderson has a lower ceiling. If anything you have it backwards.

my rationale for lower ceiling: Anderson wins with power and hand use and very good, but not great speed / bend around the edge

As a result, i could imagine a guy who gets 8 -10 sacks a year, but not 14-16

In fairness ... a name that just got posted that i think is a good comp: Micah Parsons. Same kinda approach to pass rush and i think we would all be thrilled if the Cards got that...

i also dont do this for a living.......