So, I understand that these measurements and testing aren't the end all and be all for if a football player will work out in the NFL. However, there are reasons for them. There is a ton of data about the athletic profiles of players that are successful in the NFL at each position. Obviously, these are averages for the position so +/- a few milliseconds and inches here or there aren't all that meaningful. Also, just like players can get by in college with just being great athletes there are players that get by in college with intelligence and effort. Anderson wasn't even close to the testing averages for an OLB/Edge in the NFL. It's not just his 3 cone either. It's also his vertical and his arm length.(before anyone complains, both of these matter. Vert isn't about jumping high its about explosion and arm length gives obvious advantages) Now, none of this means he isn't going to make it in the NFL. There are exceptions to these rules at various positions. (Drew Brees and Russell Wilson at QB are good examples.) But what it does mean is that if Anderson succeeds in the NFL it will be an exception to the rule.
There tend to be 2 reasons a player breaks the mold at their given position. The first is when a player simply works harder, has a high football IQ, and great technique. Defensive players in this category have lower ceilings because they less of an ability to recover from a step in the wrong direction or being a little slower to diagnose a play. The second type of player is one who simply plays differently. Rarely does this kind of player come along but it does happen. Dalvin Cook might very well be an example of this. He has horrible change of direction in testing but when watching him on tape it looks like that might be because he doesn't make cuts the same way most RBs do.
It is completely possible Anderson will fall under one of these two categories but from a team building standpoint you are taking on greater risk with this kind of pick.
