Washington used its first two picks in the 2017 NFL Draft in an attempt to upgrade its defense by selecting former Alabama teammates Jonathan Allen and Ryan Anderson. While Allen may have gone first in the latest NFL selection process, it appears Anderson has done the better job of making his presence felt early in their Washington careers.

During a recent video segment of Redskins Radio: Inside the Locker Room, Doug Williams, former Washington quarterback and current VP of player personnel for the team, had some glowing remarks regarding Anderson’s presence with the club.

“I can understand why Alabama was good defensively,” Williams said on the program. “That kid Ryan Anderson, if you’re gonna have an alpha male in the locker room, he looks like that guy.”

It’s not often a rookie finishes his debut campaign as a team leader but it appears Anderson may be on his way to accomplishing that rare feat. While he certainly enjoyed a successful career in Tuscaloosa, should he translate that same level of intensity and attitude to Washington, he could soon find himself in a leadership position before long.

“He don’t smile that much, man, but he loves to practice and he loves the game of football,” Williams added.

Former Redskin star Brian Mitchell, one of the program’s hosts, noted how important the scouting department is at the NFL level, mentioning that Ryan Anderson wasn’t particularly impressive in combines and workouts, but shined when it mattered the most — during the actual football games last fall.

“If you watched Alabama play this year, No. 22 made more plays than anybody on that football field,” Mitchell commented.

“22 is important, man,” Williams replied. “You look at him, you figure he’s an inside linebacker, which he has played, but I think he’s versatile enough. He’s a pretty good pass rusher. He’s strong, he might not be as long as the rest of those guys, but he can shorten things up pretty quick.”

After helping lead Alabama to unprecedented success in recent seasons, if the Washington defense turns around in a hurry next season, expect Anderson and Allen to play a crucial role in kick starting the defensive movement in the nation’s capital.