Texans Exercise Will Anderson Jr., C.J. Stroud’s Fifth-Year Options
The Texans will be committing nearly $50MM in guaranteed money to their two first-round draft choices from 2023. Both Will Anderson Jr. and C.J. Stroud are extension candidates, and each is now signed through the 2027 season.
Houston is exercising both players’ fifth-year options, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates. Stroud’s option checks in at $25.9MM, while Anderson’s comes in at $21.51MM. Anderson is on the Texans’ extension docket this offseason, and while a Stroud payday may now be pushed to 2027, the Texans are making the expected one-year commitment to the former Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Anderson’s fifth-year number comes in on the third tier of the option ladder, with the former Alabama standout being named to one original-ballot Pro Bowl. Stroud has not been invited to a Pro Bowl on the original ballot, so he qualifies for the second rung on the QB ladder. That is still a hefty chunk of change for the quarterback. If Stroud indeed plays the 2027 season in Houston, he will be the franchise’s first five-year starting quarterback since Matt Schaub.
Soaring to the first-team All-Pro level last season as a dominant pass rusher on a menacing Texans defense, Anderson has generated extension buzz for months. The Texans paid Derek Stingley Jr. early, giving him a record-setting extension in his first offseason of eligibility. Anderson may well follow suit, as rumors have trended in that direction. The Texans paid J.J. Watt in his first year of extension eligibility back in 2014. Anderson does not have a Defensive Player of the Year honor under his belt like Watt did when Houston paid him, but the 2023 No. 3 pick has become one of the NFL’s best edge rushers.
Discussions have begun with Anderson, who will be a candidate to at least approach where Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson took the market to close a transformative year on the EDGE market. Anderson will not turn 25 until September, and he has totaled 23 sacks over the past two seasons. The 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year racked up 12 sacks last season opposite perennial sack ace Danielle Hunter, forming one of the NFL’s best rush tandems in recent memory. This duo joined Stingley in powering Houston to a third straight playoff berth, with the Texans’ defense smothering the Steelers in Round 1 after a strong regular-season surge to reach 12 wins.
Parsons’ market reached $46.5MM per year, with his Packers extension stalling Hutchinson’s Lions talks. Hutchinson scored a defender-record $141MM guaranteed, while Parsons came in at $136MM. Anderson’s camp will be eyeing those figures, though the Texans have shown a willingness — as Stingley’s deal showed — to complete three-year extensions. That would reduce the total cash figure while allowing Anderson a chance at a third contract sooner. This easy option decision, however, reflects how well the Texans did choosing Anderson — whom they traded up nine spots for after selecting Stroud at No. 2.
Stroud came off the board one pick after former Alabama QB Bryce Young, whom the Panthers chose first overall. While Stroud has been the better of the two, it is not sure a thing either team will commit to a long-term deal this offseason. Rather, both clubs may want to wait another year to evaluate their signal-callers. Stroud and Young have put together uneven careers thus far.
Although the Texans have gone a terrific 28-18 in Stroud’s starts, the 24-year-old’s effectiveness has arguably dipped since a stellar 2023 introduction. A concussion sidelined Stroud for three games last season. The team kept its once-floundering season afloat by winning all three of backup Davis Mills‘ starts. Meanwhile, the Texans won nine of Stroud’s 14 outings. He completed 64.5% of passes, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt and tossed 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions. While his traditional passer rating (92.9) checked in at 17th, he finished a much more impressive 11th in QBR (61.7).
Stroud has helped the Texans to the playoffs in each of his seasons, but they have not gotten past the divisional round. The Stroud-led team suffered particularly ugly second-round defeats to the Ravens in 2023 (34-10) and the Patriots last January (28-16). Stroud had one of the worst games of his career in New England, where he completed 20 of 47 passes and threw four picks in miserable weather.
Discussing Stroud’s playoff struggles, head coach DeMeco Ryans said (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2): “Being young in his career, he’s gained a ton of valuable experience and a ton of playoff experience and seeing that it hasn’t gone as we would like it to go there in the playoffs. Of course, you always want to win it all. But when you go through those difficult moments, those tough times, you learn from them. I know C.J. has learned from those moments.”
Heading into a pivotal fourth year, Ryans believes Stroud is “dialed in,” adding, “I’m excited to see how this continues to transition to him having a really great year for us.”
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
2027 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 1 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2023 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of performance- and usage-based benchmarks:
- Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
- One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
- Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th top salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
- Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position
PFR’s Offseason Outlook series examined each of these decisions in-depth, and weeks remain until this year’s deadline. In the meantime, we will use the space below to track all the 2027 option decisions from around the league:
- QB Bryce Young, Panthers ($25.9MM): To be exercised
- QB C.J. Stroud, Texans ($25.9MM): Exercised
- DE Will Anderson Jr., Texans ($21.51MM): Exercised
- QB Anthony Richardson, Colts ($22.48MM)
- CB Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks ($21.16MM): Exercised
- LT Paris Johnson Jr., Cardinals ($19.07MM)
- DE Tyree Wilson, Raiders ($14.48MM)
- RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons ($11.32MM)
- DT Jalen Carter, Eagles ($27.13MM)
- RT Darnell Wright, Bears ($19.07MM)
- G Peter Skoronski, Titans ($19.07MM)
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions ($14.29MM)
- DE Lukas Van Ness, Packers ($13.75MM)
- LT Broderick Jones, Steelers ($19.07MM): To be declined
- DE Will McDonald, Jets ($13.75MM): To be exercised
- CB Emmanuel Forbes, Rams ($12.63MM)
- CB Christian Gonzalez, Patriots ($18.12MM): Exercised
- LB Jack Campbell, Lions ($21.93MM)
- DL Calijah Kancey, Buccaneers ($14.48MM)
- WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($23.85MM): Exercised*
- WR Quentin Johnston, Chargers ($18MM)
- WR Zay Flowers, Ravens ($27.3MM): To be exercised
- WR Jordan Addison, Vikings ($18MM): To be exercised
- CB Deonte Banks, Giants ($12.63MM)
- TE Dalton Kincaid, Bills ($8.16MM): Exercised
- DT Mazi Smith, Jets ($13.93MM)
- RT Anton Harrison, Jaguars ($19.07MM): Exercised
- DE Myles Murphy, Bengals ($14.48MM)
- DT Bryan Bresee, Saints ($13.93MM): Exercised
- DE Nolan Smith, Eagles ($13.75MM)
- DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Chiefs ($13.75MM)
* = Seahawks gave Smith-Njigba four-year, $168.6MM extension
Texans Discussing Extension With DE Will Anderson Jr.
Well before the 2025 campaign was over, it became clear the Texans would target a Will Anderson Jr. extension during the 2026 offseason. To no surprise, then, efforts to reach a deal are underway.
Houston has engaged in negotiations on a “potential blockbuster” new deal with Anderson, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Any second contract in this case will bring with it a massive raise. Picking up Anderson’s fifth-year option for 2027 would cost $21.51MM, and exercising it would buy time for extended negotiations on a long-term pact.
The Texans can of course be expected to pick up Anderson’s option, as they will also do in the case of quarterback C.J. Stroud. Both players are in line for substantial pay increases if/when agreements can be reached. Anderson took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 and he has established himself as one of the league’s top edge rushers since. The former No. 3 selection posted 11 sacks during his second season and set a new career high once more with 12 in 2025.
Anderson is approaching his age-25 season, so any long-term commitment can be expected to approach the top of the pass rush market. Micah Parsons moved the bar to $46.5MM per year with his Packers extension, and Aidan Hutchinson‘s Lions deal carries an AAV of $45MM. With the NFL’s salary cap having jumped since both of those pacts were signed, Anderson could attempt to at least match them during negotiations. It will be interesting to see how willing the Texans will be with respect to a financial commitment in this case, given the looming cost of a second Stroud contract.
Houston’s defense also has a major short-term EDGE commitment in the form of Danielle Hunter‘s new deal along with a significant cornerback contract on the books (Derek Stingley Jr.). Adding Anderson to that group would of course present financial challenges, but it would ensure a core member of the team’s elite defense would remain in place for the foreseeable future.
The Texans have progressed to the divisional round of the playoffs during each of Anderson’s three years in the league. He will be counted on to remain an impactful presence in 2026 and beyond, but he may have a new contract in hand by the time next season begins.
Mutual Extension Interest Between Texans, Azeez Al-Shaair; Sheldon Rankins Re-Signing On Radar
Azeez Al-Shaair‘s reunion with DeMeco Ryans has helped the Texans become one of the NFL’s best defenses. Leading the way in EPA per play last season, Houston has a Will Anderson Jr. extension on the radar. The team is also eyeing a second Al-Shaair agreement.
The former Ryans 49ers charge is entering the final season of a three-year, $34MM contract, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes mutual interest in an extension is believed to exist. The Texans have already been active on the extension front, giving one-year bumps to Danielle Hunter and Dalton Schultz. A re-up would reduce Al-Shaair’s $15.24MM 2026 cap number.
[RELATED: Assessing Texans’ Offseason Outlook]
The hard-hitting linebacker would be likely to sign a multiyear extension, as opposed to the one-year deals Hunter and Schultz did. Al-Shaiir, 28, has anchored Houston’s defensive second level since signing as a free agent in 2024. Missing six games in 2024 (three due to a suspension for a hit on Trevor Lawrence), Al-Shaair tallied 103 tackles and nine passes defensed last season. Pro Football Focus ranked him 17th among linebackers.
An update to the linebacker market is expected early this week, with Devin Lloyd and Quay Walker hitting free agency. Al-Shaair is currently tied to the No. 8 off-ball linebacker AAV. Probably not a candidate to rival where Roquan Smith and ex-49ers teammate Fred Warner reside, Al-Shaair will be able to command a raise. The level Nick Bolton and Jamien Sherwood reached on this day last year ($15MM per) would seemingly be realistic.
Houston is also interested in re-signing defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, who fared better last season after struggling in Cincinnati. Part of Ryans’ defense in 2023 and ’25, Rankins scored two touchdowns last season — the second in the Texans’ wild-card rout in Pittsburgh. Rankins will turn 32 next month; he is coming off a three-sack season that featured five tackles for loss. The former first-round pick has proven a fit under Ryans, starting 17 games last season.
Elsewhere on the Texans’ defense, Wilson indicates Denico Autry has not made a retirement call yet. The 12-year veteran will turn 36 in July. Autry played in 12 games last season, recording 3.5 sacks. Autry is unsigned for 2026.
Wilson adds the Texans will likely adjust David Montgomery‘s contract soon. Houston added Montgomery before cutting Joe Mixon. Upon acquiring Mixon via trade in 2024, the Texans gave him a two-year deal worth $19.75MM. Montgomery has two years left on his Lions-designed extension (two years, $18.25MM). While Montgomery’s cap number is only $6MM, no guarantees remain on his contract. The Texans’ extension interest indicates they view this trade as more than a one-year rental.
Montgomery’s arrival points Nick Chubb out the door, and Wilson adds Christian Kirk and Christian Harris are also likely not coming back. Ed Ingram could be priced out of the Texans’ comfort zone. Despite being demoted by the Vikings before they unloaded him for a low-level trade return, Wilson adds Ingram’s price could reach $15MM per year in free agency. The Texans, who traded sporadic guard option Tytus Howard to the Browns, have shown interest in retaining Ingram but perhaps not at that price.
Lastly, the Texans made an addition to their coaching staff recently. They hired Tiquan Underwood as their assistant wide receivers coach, Wilson tweets. Underwood, a former NFL wideout, spent last season as the Cowboys’ assistant WRs coach.
Texans Not Eyeing Offseason C.J. Stroud Extension?
It is a foregone conclusion that the Texans will exercise quarterback C.J. Stroud’s fifth-year option, thereby assuring him of a $26.53MM salary for 2027. It is less certain that Houston will discuss a long-term contract with Stroud’s camp this offseason, and Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 unequivocally asserts those talks will not commence until next year.
In a lengthy video report addressing recent speculation that Houston could consider trading Stroud – whose middling 2025 regular season culminated in two turnover-riddled playoff contests and another divisional-round exit – Wilson says contract talks are not in the team’s immediate plans. Instead, he believes the club and Stroud will reach an understanding in which the Texans tell the former No. 2 overall pick they will be happy to pay him like a franchise passer a year from now, after a strong 2026 performance.
Although he does not explicitly say so, one of the reports Wilson appears to be referencing is one recently published by Albert Breer of SI.com. Per Breer, it may be difficult to get Stroud to accept anything less than the $60MM-per-year payout that Cowboys’ QB Dak Prescott presently enjoys, which Breer suggests will soon become the new benchmark for high-end quarterback contracts.
Of course, given that Stroud followed up his Offensive Rookie of the Year showing in 2023 with two less inspiring seasons, and given that his two most recent playoff games featured a combined five fumbles (two lost) and five interceptions, it is fair to wonder if his track record and upside merit a top-shelf deal. While not as adamant as Wilson, Breer indicates the Texans could delay contract talks until the 2027 offseason.
If Houston does elect to negotiate, its perception of Stroud’s value may be starkly different than the player’s self-evaluation, which could cause the talks to get “sticky.” Breer echoes prior reports that the Texans may be aggressive in seeking an extension for edge rusher Will Anderson, and if they authorize a top-of-the-market pact for the defensive star but not for their QB1, the relationship between Stroud and the club may become strained.
Either development – contentious negotiations or an outright postponement of negotiations – could pique the interest of QB-needy teams, which could then try to pry Stroud away from Houston. Breer does not say the Texans have received calls on Stroud, nor does he indicate they would even entertain such calls if they came in, but it makes sense that other clubs would be monitoring the situation just in case.
But even if they do not believe he is presently deserving of a $60MM/year contract, the Texans have no intention of trading Stroud, per Wilson (who says it would cost at least two first-round picks for an interested team to acquire him). Wilson goes on to say Houston’s plan is to bolster the O-line, upgrade the tight end room, and add another starting-caliber running back. Those moves, in conjunction with a second year under offensive coordinator Nick Caley, are expected to allow Stroud to thrive in 2026 and improve his earning power in 2027.
Texans Will Pick Up QB C.J. Stroud’s Fifth-Year Option; Team To Discuss Offseason Extension
JANUARY 19: When speaking to the media on Monday, Anderson stated he hopes to spend his entire career in Houston. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 confirms talks on a mega-extension are expected, and it would come as no surprise if one were to be finalized during the spring.
JANUARY 12: For now, the Texans’ attention is focused on their upcoming wild-card game and any further playoff contests which follow. Once the season is over, a number of notable contract decisions will need to be made. 
This offseason will mark the first point at which 2023 draftees can sign extensions. That means quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson could land new contracts relatively soon. At a minimum, a choice on the fifth-year option for both players will need to be made by the spring. Neither case should prove to be particularly difficult on that front.
To no surprise, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirms the Texans will exercise Stroud’s option (video link). That comes as no surprise given the 24-year-old’s success early in his career. Houston advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs in each of Stroud’s first two seasons, and a win tonight will extend that streak to three years. Exercising the option will set Stroud up for $26.53MM in 2027.
A long-term pact will of course cost much more than that. Per Rapoport, the Texans will weigh the possibility of working out a second contract this offseason against waiting until after the 2026 campaign is over. The market currently contains 11 passers attached to an average annual value of $51MM or more. Stroud can be expected to join that group whenever his next Texans contract is in place. The status of negotiations will make for a central Texans offseason storyline.
Stroud was selected second overall in the 2023 draft. Houston traded up to the No. 3 spot to add Anderson. Expectations were high in his case as a result, but the former Defensive Rookie of the Year has developed into a major factor in his team’s success. Anderson reached double-digit sacks for the first time in 2024, and he set a new career high in that department this season with 12. That production helped land him a first-team All-Pro nod along with the second Pro Bowl invitation of his career.
Houston will also look into an Anderson extension this offseason, Rapoport adds. In November, it was reported the Texans were expected to explore an early agreement on this front. Picking up Anderson’s fifth-year option will tie him to a 2027 salary of $15.28MM. An extension could move the Alabama product near the top of the pass rush market, one which is currently paced by Micah Parsons at $46.5MM per year.
Working out an agreement with either Stroud or Anderson will of course significantly alter the Texans’ cap outlook for years to come. A strong core is in place, but maintaining it will become more challenging as their respective costs increase. Massive new deals being finalized in either case will come as no surprise, but the timing on both fronts will be interesting to monitor.
Texans Eyeing 2026 Will Anderson Extension
The Texans are expected to begin extension talks with star edge rusher Will Anderson early in the 2026 offseason, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Anderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft, recorded seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss as a rookie, earning him a Pro Bowl nod and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He took his play to another level in 2024 with 11.0 sacks and 16 tackles for loss, which both tied for the 10th-most in the league. He did, however, miss five games due to injury across his first two seasons, suggesting his production could have been even higher.
That has been the case this season. If 2024 was a breakout, 2025 has been an explosion. Anderson has the second-most sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (14) in the NFL, putting him on pace for career-highs in both categories. He ranks second among all pass rushers with 64 pressures and a 27.2% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Those numbers put him in the company of Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson, both former first-round picks who signed their second contracts worth at least $45MM this year.
Anderson’s market will be in a similar range. He is headed for his second Pro Bowl, may receive All-Pro consideration, and could earn some Defensive Player of the Year votes. (He finished 14th last year). He will still be 24 when the 2026 season begins and has the additional leverage since the Texans made a costly trade up to draft him in 2023, which should position him to at least match Hutchinson’s $45MM APY, if not push to match or surpass Parsons’ $46.5MM APY.
Anderson’s rookie deal runs through 2026, plus his fifth-year option for 2027 that the Texans are all-but-certain to exercise. They can do so as early as January 5. The signing bonus from an extension would likely increase Anderson’s 2026 cap hit, so getting the deal done early will clarify their cap situation heading into free agency. It will also limit the possibility of other increases in the edge rusher market to drive Anderson’s price even higher, a situation that the Cowboys and Steelers ran into this year with Parsons and T.J. Watt.
AFC South Notes: WRs, Anderson, Sneed
Three receivers in the AFC South are facing big seasons for different reasons in 2025, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Titans wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Treylon Burks and Texans wideout John Metchie all are looking to have impactful 2025 campaigns in order to improve their prospects for the future.
Ridley returns to Tennessee as the team’s leading receiver from 2024, but he’ll be in a much-improved receiving corps this season. He’s been joined by veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson and rookies Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Xavier Restrepo as targets for No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward. Volin argues that, with Ridley being 30 years old, the Titans may feel comfortable moving on from Ridley in favor of their several other options in the future. Even with a post-June 1 designation, cutting Ridley would not save them any cap space this year, but if Ridley can’t prove to be a worthy asset in 2025, his contract provides a potential out that could limit his dead money to $8.02MM and increase the team’s cap savings to $18.73 for 2026, should they cut him.
After Tennessee made the decision to decline Burks’ fifth-year option, it’s certain that the 25-year-old will be headed into the final year of his rookie contract. Through three seasons, Burks has struggled mightily with injuries, missing 24 of a possible 51 games. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise, then, that he may not make it through the offseason. With the lack of production, the influx of new talent, and only $2.66MM in cash owed to him this year, Burks could face long odds of making the roster in 2025.
Metchie, unfortunately, faces similar challenges. Metchie’s health issues stem, initially, from a surprising diagnosis of leukemia that halted his rookie season before it even began. In two years since returning to the team, though, Metchie has failed to make much of an impact, despite injuries to his teammates providing plenty of opportunities for him to do so. Like Burks, Metchie is now heading into the final year of his rookie contract and dealing with an influx of new talent like veteran Christian Kirk and Day 2 rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Metchie, a Day 2 pick himself, will need to tap into the potential that got him drafted that high in order to ensure his roster status for the 2025 NFL season.
Here are a couple other rumors from around the AFC South:
- Former No. 3 overall pick Will Anderson Jr. is not yet eligible for an extension, but that hasn’t stopped him from thinking about it. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year told reporters recently that he “most definitely” wants to remain in Houston for the rest of his career. With 18.0 sacks, 26 tackles for loss, and 41 quarterback hits through two seasons, one would imagine that the feeling is mutual. The Texans will have to wait until he completes his third season of NFL play, though, until they can extend their young pass rusher with the contract that he desires.
- Two days ago, we reported that Titans cornerback L’Jarius Sneed was progressing well in his rehabilitation but noted that there wasn’t yet a timeline for his return. There doesn’t appear to have been any new information, but Titans senior writer/editor Jim Wyatt told fans in a mailbag yesterday that “the plan is to have him ready to go for the fall.” So, it seems Sneed will continue his recovery work for the remainder of the summer with plans to be back, hopefully, in time for training camp.
Texans’ Will Anderson Out For Week 15
DECEMEBER 15: Anderson has indeed been ruled out on the Texans’ injury report. His recent uptick in production will be interrupted, while Houston will enter Week 15 notably shorthanded on both sides of the ball. After not practicing all week, Anderson’s ability to return to the field in any capacity will be worth monitoring following the Titans contest.
DECEMBER 14: The Texans are in the thick of the AFC playoff picture, but they are in danger of being severely shorthanded on both sides of the ball for their next game. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is in the league’s concussion protocol, and the team’s other top-three rookie could also miss a contest for the first time in his career. 
Edge rusher Will Anderson suffered a high ankle sprain in the Texans’ loss to the Jets on Sunday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. As a result, Anderson has been in a walking boot over the past few days and he has not practiced. While there is still time for a turnaround, signs point to Anderson missing the upcoming contest against the Titans, Wilson adds.
Anderson has managed to suit up for every game so far in his rookie season, one which began with substantial expectations. The Texans pulled off a major trade-up to acquire the No. 3 pick in April’s draft after using the previous selection to add Stroud. Houston had been expected by many to forego drafting a quarterback at the top of the board to instead choose Anderson, widely seen as the 2023 class’ top edge rusher. Instead, the team managed to draft both, and they have each played a signficant role in the Texans’ impressive season to date.
While Stroud has drawn considerable praise for his performances throughout the year (Week 14 being a notable exception), Anderson endured a cold spell during the early part of the campaign. After a six-game sack drought, however, the latter has racked up four sacks across the past six games, bringing his total in that department to five. The Alabama alum has also produced 42 tackles, 19 QB hits and 27 pressures in 2023.
Those figures have helped the 22-year-old generate a PFF grade of 80.5, which ranks 18th amongst qualified edge rushers. Missing Anderson would thus deal a signficant blow to the Texans’ defense, a unit which already sits outside the top 20 in the league in sacks. Fellow defensive end Jonathan Greenard – who has produced a career-best and team-leading 10 sacks in his walk year – would be counted on even more in the event Anderson were unable to suit up in Week 15.
Houston is one of six AFC teams sitting at 7-6 on the year, and the absence of Stroud (if he were unable to clear concussion protocol) would significantly hinder the team’s offense. The Texans would likewise be significantly affected on defense if Anderson is unable to return to practice in the coming days.
Texans Sign No. 3 Pick Will Anderson Jr.
For the first time in 2023, a top-five pick from this year’s class has inked his rookie contract. Will Anderson Jr.‘s Texans deal is now in place, as noted (on Twitter) by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Anderson’s contract is worth a fully guranteed $35.2MM over four years; Houston will be able to keep him on the books beyond that via the fifth-year option. He will receive a signing bonus of $22.6MM as he begins his NFL career, one during which much will be expected of him.
The Alabama alum entered the 2022 season in the running to hear his name called first on draft night. His sophomore campaign saw him rack up 17.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss, figures which placed him fifth in Heisman voting in that year. A step forward from those lofty totals would have boosted his stock even further, but the opposite scenario played out during the campaign.
Anderson’s production took a step back in terms of sacks (10) and TFLs (17), but they still resulted in considerable accolades. The 6-4, 243-pounder was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year, winner of the Bronko Nagurski award (given to the country’s top defender) and a unanimous first-team All-American for the second consecutive season. He was thus squarely on the Texans’ radar in the build-up to the draft.
Houston appeared to take themselves out of contention for Anderson when they selected quarterback C.J. Stroud second overall. That decision was soon followed, however, by a bold move up the board to No. 3 which saw the Texans part ways with the No. 12 pick and a package including a 2024 first-rounder. Anderson’s arrival in Houston will thus be met with sky-high expectations both in his rookie season and over the course of his career.
The Cardinals will have plenty of reasons to follow Anderson’s performance in 2023 and the impact it will have on the Texans’ ability to begin heading out of the rebuilding phase. He will transition from an outside linebacker to a defensive end at the NFL level under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, a change which is not expected to slow his development. Anderson will have plenty of snaps available as a rookie member of an edge group which will be led by Jerry Hughes and Jonathan Greenard after the free agent departure of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
With Anderson now on the books, Stroud stands as the only Texans rookie yet to ink his rookie deal. He, along with Anderson, will be central figures in the team’s performance in 2023 and for several years beyond that.