Will Anderson signed a landmark extension with the Houston Texans as the team continues building around its core defensive pieces.
The Houston Texans made a historic deal with All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. on Friday, one that made him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history. The contract matches the investment initially made in Anderson when the Texans mortgaged significant draft capital to move back up in the draft to acquire him three years ago. The deal is major – three-years, $150 million, and $134 million guaranteed. It eclipses the hefty deal for Micah Parsons, who signed a four-year, $188 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, which has $136 million in guarantees. It’s a hefty price tag that Houston sees as worth it.
The move comes after the Texans exercised his fifth-year option for 2027 on April 8 ahead of the record extension. Anderson is coming off a 2024 campaign with 12 sacks (tied for eighth in the league) and 20 tackles for loss (tied for fourth). His difference making showed up in advanced metrics, mainly his run stop rate, his 13 run stuffs, and his 85 pressures that were second among defenders in the league last season. He finished second behind Myles Garrett in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Against strong QBs which included Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert, Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold, Houston’s defense was stout, forcing eight turnovers in those matchups. Anderson had four sacks, six TFLs, and one of those turnovers – a forced fumble he recovered for a touchdown against Seattle.
Here is the full story from Texans Roundtable writer Keith Crear on why their defensive game changer is worth every penny of his massive deal.
Anderson and the Texans certainly set a new market benchmark for every position outside of quarterback league-wide, and it comes just months after Parsons reset the market. Houston now must address CJ Stroud, who also has an extension looming that he’s eligible for, but with such an intact roster, they are poised to be one of the most dangerous in the AFC.