​Since entering the NFL, quarterbacks have found Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. to be a constant and increasingly dangerous presence on the opposite side. A former two-time All-American and two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner at Alabama, Anderson was projected to dominate games along the defensive line once he entered the league in 2023. He joined head coach DeMeco Ryans, a standout linebacker and 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the rest quickly followed a familiar script of rising stardom.
As 2026 arrives, Anderson has become the face of the Texans. He just completed a career-best stretch across sacks, tackles for loss, quarterback hits, pressures, and wins, fueling Houston’s continued success and helping the team secure a third straight wild-card victory. The Texans recognized how pivotal he was by signing him to a three-year, $150 million extension, the richest contract for a non-quarterback in 2026.
But how do NFL executives truly rank him among the league’s elite pass-rushers? Each year, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler surveys team executives, general managers, scouts, and other personnel to assemble the top 10 players at every position. In the pass-rusher rankings, Myles Garrett—two-time Defensive Player of the Year and the recently traded Los Angeles Rams star— secured the top spot and was the only player to receive a first-place vote. Trailing him in second place was Micah Parsons of Green Bay, leaving Anderson to settle in at No. 3.
“Anderson’s steady improvement over three seasons elevated him to the top tier,” Fowler wrote. “He was tied with Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby in the voting but won the tiebreaker by receiving more top-five votes.” The report notes Anderson’s disruptive impact: he is credited with causing 43 incompletions in 2025, six more than any other pass-rusher. Over three seasons, he has posted 30 sacks, earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and gained All-Pro recognition. These accomplishments helped Houston lock him into the sizable extension.
An NFC scout told Fowler that while Anderson has already become a household name and a nightmare for opposing tackles, this could merely be the beginning of a longer dominance. “I still feel like he’s underrated to a degree,” the scout said. “A true three-down force multiplier who demands attention and has the rare ability to elevate the play of his teammates.”
Last season, playing opposite Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter, Anderson earned his first All-Pro nod while being selected to the Pro Bowl for a second time. He achieved career highs with 12 sacks, 22 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and 23 quarterback hits. Yet numbers alone don’t fully capture the danger he poses in one-on-one matchups. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, the former Alabama star ranked second among edge rushers with at least 150 run-defensive snaps in pressures (85), third in run stuffs (13), and seventh in run-stop rate (12.6%). The only player outperforming him in every category was Garrett, underscoring just how close Anderson remains to the very top of the sport.