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Will Anderson Jr.
EDGE · HOU

Will Anderson Jr.

Position EDGE
Team HOU
Bye Week —
PPR Rank —

Will Anderson Jr.

NFL defensive end. Position: EDGE. Team: HOU.

Quick Facts

  • Position: Edge Rusher / Defensive End (EDGE)
  • Team: HOU (Houston Texans)
  • Age: 24 years old
  • Experience: 4 seasons in NFL (since 2023)
  • Contract: 3-year, $150M extension (highest-paid non-QB in NFL history)

2026 Outlook

Will Anderson Jr. is the centerpiece of Houston's elite defense after a dominant 2025 campaign. He earned First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year runner-up honors with 12 sacks, 54 tackles, and a Next Gen Stats era-record 48 third-down pressures. PFF graded him 92.4 overall (2nd among edge rushers). At just 24, Anderson signed a historic $150M deal making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, though some argue he should have won DPoY outright given his production. Entering 2026, Anderson believes the Texans have "Super Bowl-caliber players all over the field" and stated the team's OTAs were the best cohesion he's experienced in his four seasons. (per Will Anderson says Texans 'most definitely' have title aspirations)

The Texans are building around Anderson with complementary pieces: Reed Blankenship joins as a pro-ready safety to address red-zone weakness (2025: 55.3% TD rate, 13th in league), and LB depth (Marte Mapu, Wade Woodaz, Aiden Fisher) offsets E.J. Speed's potential season-ending quad injury. All six 2025 Pro Bowlers return alongside Danielle Hunter, giving Anderson the deepest roster he's had in his four seasons. Ryans stated "Offenses are going to struggle" against the 2026 unit—confidence that Anderson's elite production can be sustained or expanded. (per How Texans' defense plans to be as good, if not better than 2025 unit).

Defensive Player of the Year prediction (Stadium Rant, July 6): Selected as DPOY prediction at +750 odds (over Myles Garrett). The analysis notes Anderson is "coming off a career year in sacks (12), tackles (54 combined, 35 solo), and tackles for loss (20)." While Garrett (now on the LA Rams) may win a Super Bowl, Anderson's position as Texans centerpiece on "the best defense in the NFL" (2025: 277.2 yards allowed per game), combined with recent addition of DT Kayden McDonald to "give Anderson more opportunities off the edge," positions him to "establish himself as a new boogeyman for QBs" in 2026 (per 2026-27 NFL Honors Predictions: Early Picks For MVP, Coach of the Year & Every Major Award)

Role / Depth Chart

Starter at edge rusher. Paired with Danielle Hunter and veteran Jadeveon Clowney in one of the league's most formidable pass-rush trios. Clowney signed in August after recording 8.5 sacks with Dallas in 2025, adding elite edge depth that will amplify Anderson's opportunities and draw game-planning focus.

Injury Status

Healthy.

Recent News

PFF Edge Defender Rankings (Aug 5): PFF ranked Anderson as the #2 edge defender heading into 2026, behind only Myles Garrett (#1). The analysis notes Anderson "turns 25 at the start of September, so it's fair to wonder if we've even seen his peak yet," emphasizing that he has "improved in each of his three seasons in the NFL so far" with a career-high 92.8 PFF pass-rush grade and 102 total pressures from 529 snaps in 2025. PFF's projection suggests Anderson "just might overtake Garrett for the top spot" if he can take another step forward in 2026. (per PFF Edge Defender Rankings: The top 32 players ahead of the 2026 NFL season)

August 7 training camp: Danielle Hunter praised Anderson during training camp, noting he "keeps getting quicker and quicker" with "the sky's the limit for that kid." Progress in footwork and burst continues to show improvement heading into 2026 (per What Tank Dell says about his recovery and goals for 2026 | Texans camp report).

CBS Sports AFC MVP preview (Aug 12): Anderson ranked as Houston's non-QB MVP, with analysis emphasizing he's "become the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL" with his $150M extension, justifying elite status. Production last season (12 sacks, career-high pressures, first-team All-Pro) positions him as a foundational defensive asset for Texans' playoff push (per Who will be the non-quarterback MVP for every AFC team in 2026?).

Open Questions

  • Will Anderson finally claim DPoY honors in 2026 after runner-up finish?

Sources