Takeaways & Questions from Texans, DE Will Anderson Jr’s historic extension

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson has emerged as one of the top defensive linemen in the AFC South and arguably the AFC. Photo: NFL/Getty

HOUSTON —One month before the Houston Texans made a blockbuster acquisition for Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery, two factors were already looming throughout the course of the offseason.

The question over extending the 2023 third-overall pick, Will Anderson Jr, and the 2023 second-overall pick, CJ Stroud. In early April, those questions were finally answered. General Manager Nick Caserio exercised both of their fifth-year options, meaning Caserio beat the league’s deadline (May 1) to exercise the option itself.

Until Friday (April 17), where a earthquake shattered NFL history. Defensive End Will Anderson Jr. and the Houston Texans agreed to a three-year, $150 million extension, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This mega-extension makes the 24-year-old one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in NFL History, and includes a no-trade clause.

In short, this implies that the Texans cannot trade Anderson Jr. to another team without his permission.

Last regular season, Anderson Jr. totaled 12.0 sacks (T-eighth), 35 tackles, and three forced fumbles. This earned him a nod in the 2025 Pro Bowl, 1st Team All-Pro, and placed second in DPOY voting behind Cleveland’s Myles Garrett. 2025 was a career year for Anderson Jr, making it only right for the Texans to retain #51 till 2029.

So, what’s next? Here are my three takeaways, 24 hours after the extension took place.

1. Getting Over the Hump

Since 2023, the Houston Texans have appeared in three Divisional Round games (2023,2024,2025), and have lost in devastating fashion every time. Baltimore, Kansas City, and New England have all ruined Houston’s aspirations of reaching an AFC title game and the Super Bowl.

Extending Will Anderson helps Houston on their already great defense room have a chance at reaching the “promise land.’’ Additionally, Houston recently extended fellow Defensive End Danielle Hunter to a one-year, $40.1M extension, and signed Eagles safety Reed Blankenship to a three-year deal.

This helps Houston have a legitimate shot at title contention for years to come. Whether or not Houston should’ve gone to the “big game’’ after Stroud’s infamous four-game interception against New England in the Divisional Round is up for debate. But, history has already been inked, and if the Texans and their fans want to excel, they have to put the past behind them.

With Texans’ wide receiver Tank Dell expected to return, Houston can no longer afford to be mediocre at the quarterback position, as well as any other position, if they want to compete.

2. Contract Inflation

Ever since the dawn of the 2020s, we’ve seen countless deals where one become the newest member of the NFL’s highest paid in history. To put this into perspective, the league’s cap space in 2020 was $198.2 million per team. Now that number just six years has looked like an ancient piece of the league’s history.

The year of 2026 reached an all-time high, now being $301.2 million. Multiple teams can sign players to historic deals, things that would’ve seemed impossible just a few years ago.

Source via NFL Football Operations

Before Will Anderson Jr., the highest non-paid quarterback was Green Bay’s Micah Parsons. Just last year, Parsons set the record with a four-year, $188 million extension, right after his blockbuster trade from Dallas. That record was held for approximately seven months, until yesterday.

There is no time better than now for players to showcase their talent and receive massive long-term contracts. However, this could bring strong repercussions over time, and ironically enough, we’re seeing it in multiple franchises.

In Miami, they moved on from Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill last month, following historic extensions. Currently, the Dolphins are carrying $182 million in dead cap, meaning that half of their salary cap is being paid to players who are no longer on the roster.

For Cleveland, they are suffering in real time, with the 2022 signing of Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson in a 2023 Cleveland Browns training camp session. (Erik Drost/Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Cleveland currently sits fourth in the league in dead money, leaving them with little to no impact on overall team performance, ultimately relying on talent from the annual NFL Draft cycle.

3. A Potential DPOY For Anderson Jr.

The AP Defensive Player of the Year award (DPOY) is one of the most prestigious awards for all defensive players. Essentially, anything can happen. Just two years ago (2024), Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II won the award, shocking all who believed the award was for Defensive Lineman.

Historically, this makes sense. Only two cornerbacks have won the award since 2010. New England Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore in 2019 and Surtain II in 2024.

As listed above, Will Anderson came second behind Myles Garrett in DPOY voting. If he can keep up the consistency from his past two seasons, we could possibly see another DPOY return to Houston, since 2015, in JJ Watt.

4. Can Anderson Jr. Maintain His Health?

Being healthy is always the best ability. We’ve all heard that term more often than not, and now it starting to become true. Just last year, Micah Parsons suffered an ACL tear against the Denver Broncos, despite having a legendary season with 12.5 sacks.

He was one of the highest paid at his position, and that investment from Green Bay became a waste in just his first year. Now, if Parsons can return back to full form by Week 1 is still a questions as the days go by, however his injury left a hole in Green Bay’s defense. Thus, leading to their collapse against the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card.

Anderson Jr, has appeared in 46 games throughout the course of his three-year career. Injuries don’t seem likely to happen, however, when big extensions happen like this, it’s hard not to argue that Houston will utilize Will Anderson more in the defensive scheme.