3 weeks ago
6
The Houston Texans gave star edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. a record-breaking contract on eve of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Texans signed Anderson to a three-year, $150 million contract extension on April 17, USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon confirms. The deal will contain $134 million in guarantees and will make Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson's extension came just nine days after the team picked up the 2023 first-round pick's fifth-year option for 2027. He will now be under contract through 2030, which will be his age-29 season.
The Texans initially selected Anderson with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They traded up from the 12th selection to land the Alabama product after spending the draft's second selection on quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Anderson has quickly blossomed into a high-impact player for the Texans. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, made the Pro Bowl in 2024 and 2025 and also earned an All-Pro first team nod for his performance last season.
Here's a breakdown of Anderson's deal with the Texans and why it looks like a good deal for both parties.
Grading Will Anderson's contract with Texans
The Texans are paying a pretty penny for Anderson's services, but it could prove worth it. Anderson has already blossomed into one of the NFL's best pass rushers and is coming off a hyper-productive season in 2025.
Anderson totaled a career-best 12 sacks in 2025 and notched 85 pressures during the campaign, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Only Detroit Lions star Aidan Hutchinson had more than him (89), but Hutchinson logged nearly 300 more total snaps than Anderson.
Anderson's pass-rushing prowess helped turn the Texans into one of the best defenses in the league. He captained Houston's stop unit, which ranked No. 1 in the league in defensive EPA per play and allowed 17.4 points per game, second-fewest behind only the Seattle Seahawks (17.2).
Anderson won't turn 25 until September, so his combination of youth, talent and leadership skills makes him a coveted commodity at a blue-chip position. That's likely why the Texans moved so quickly to lock him up for the remainder of his 20s and pay him a market-setting deal.
Even so, while Anderson's deal comes with a non-quarterback record of $50 million in average annual value (AAV), the total value of the contract – $150 million – is actually less than that of the only other pass rushers making more than $45 million in AAV, Micah Parsons ($188 million) and Hutchinson ($180 million).
With that in mind, Anderson's deal seems to be about on par with the current market. Sure, the massive amount of guaranteed money ($134 million) comes with some risk, but because the pact is shorter-term, the Texans will be protected enough from any pitfalls this deal could face.
It's also worth noting that Anderson has played in 52 of a possible 57 career NFL games (postseason included) to date. That includes all 17 of the Texans' regular-season games in 2025 as well as their two playoff contests.
So, all told, this looks like a mutually beneficial deal – and one that both parties can revisit down the line if Anderson continues to play at an All-Pro level.
Grade: A-
Will Anderson contract details
Below are the full details of Anderson's record-setting contract with the Texans.
- Term: 3 years
- Total value: $150 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $50 million
- Guaranteed money: $134 million
Will Anderson stats
Below is a full look at Anderson's stats across his three NFL seasons to date:
- Games: 46
- Tackles: 136
- TFL: 45
- Sacks: 30
- Pass defenses: 6
- Forced fumbles: 4
- Fumble recoveries: 3
Anderson has also added 17 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 8 TFL and 3 forced fumbles to his ledger across six career playoff games.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Grading Will Anderson's record-setting contract extension with Texans
