Will Anderson Jr. was a projected top-five pick in 2023.
But it was still shocking to see the Houston Texans trade up to the No. 3 overall to snag him, giving up a massive haul of draft picks in the process. A rare move for a non-quarterback.
Safe to say it’s paid off.
He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors that year after recording 45 total tackles, 22 quarterback hits, 10 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. He followed that up with 11 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2024, all in just 14 games.
Last year was the real breakout, though. He set career highs across the board with 54 tackles, 23 QB hits, 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three passes deflected, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, starting in all 17 games.
That production earned him his first First-Team All-Pro nod, a second Pro Bowl selection, and he was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.
The Texans clearly agree he’s a foundational piece, signing him to a massive three-year, $150 million extension in April, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Yet, in the eyes of one NFC scout, he’s still getting slept on.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler published his annual rankings for edge rushers on Wednesday, July 8, and had Anderson No. 3 overall, behind Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons.
“I still feel like he’s underrated to a degree,” the scout said. “True three-down force multiplier who demands attention and has the rare ability to elevate the play of teammates.”
“Combination of speed to power, then his strength and effort,” another NFC scout added. “He’s better than I expected, to be honest.”
The Texans led the NFL in total yards allowed (4,713), ranked second in points allowed (295), and third in takeaways (29). They also finished in the top 10 in sacks (47) and sack percentage (8.0%).
Not all of that was because of Anderson, but he was a crucial factor.
Houston is loaded with defensive talent, including Anderson’s partner in crime, Danielle Hunter, and Pro Bowlers Derek Stingley Jr., Calen Bullock, Kamari Lassiter, and Azeez Al-Shaair.
But Anderson, still just 24 years old, is clearly one of the top ascending young talents in the league, and Fowler’s rankings, along with scouts’ high praise, just reinforced that.