After recording consecutive double-digit sack campaigns, the former top-three pick is tipped to dominate the league as the centerpiece of a lethal, star-studded Houston defensive front.
The Houston Texans have one of the NFL's most talented defenses heading into the 2026 season, and ESPN's Dan Graziano believes Will Anderson Jr. could be the player who takes his game to another level.
In his predictions for the upcoming season, Graziano picked Anderson to lead the entire NFL in sacks. It would be another major step forward for the former No. 3 overall pick, who has developed into one of the league's most dangerous pass rushers during his first three seasons.
Graziano explained why he believes Anderson is in position for a massive year, "Nothing but incredible things about Anderson from the Texans, as usual. This was an elite defense last season that sounds driven to be even better this year. Anderson benefits from having Danielle Hunter on the other side of the line and a Houston defense that's stacked at all three levels. Anderson had 11 sacks in the 2024 regular season, 12 more in 2025 and 3.5 in each of the past two postseasons. He looked like an unstoppable game-wrecker against the Patriots in the postseason loss."
Anderson's production has continued to rise since entering the league. After recording 11 sacks during the 2024 regular season, he followed it up with 12 in 2025. He has also delivered when the stakes are at their highest, adding 3.5 sacks across Houston's past two postseason runs.
The biggest factor working in Anderson's favor may be the talent surrounding him. Danielle Hunter remains one of the NFL's premier edge rushers, meaning opposing offenses cannot simply focus all of their attention on Anderson. With both players capable of taking over a game, offensive lines face a difficult decision every time they prepare to protect their quarterback.
Houston's depth throughout the rest of the defense only makes that challenge more difficult. The Texans have built a unit capable of creating pressure and forcing offenses into uncomfortable situations, which could create even more opportunities for Anderson to finish plays.
Leading the NFL in sacks is a difficult prediction to fulfill, especially with so many elite pass rushers around the league. But Anderson has already shown that he belongs in that conversation.
If he can continue the upward trajectory he has established over the past two seasons, Anderson could put together the best campaign of his young career in 2026. Graziano's prediction may sound ambitious, but the Texans' star edge rusher has already shown plenty of evidence that he is capable of becoming the NFL's most productive quarterback hunter.
