(Photo: Sporting News)
Just a few weeks ago, I was talking about the Alabama Crimson Tide and all of the well-known players who played for Nick Saban—from Julio Jones, Jalen Hurts, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, and so many more. Coach has also had his share of quality defensive players, such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, Dont’a Hightower, Jonathan Allen, and Patrick Surtain II. All of them were great, but a guy named Will Anderson Jr. ranks as the best I’ve seen in Tuscaloosa. The Houston Texans drafted him with the third overall pick in 2023, and now, he’s become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, signing a three-year extension worth $150 million.
I enjoyed watching him in college and knew he’d be a special force in the NFL given the right opportunity. Will has become one of the best defensive players in the league today. When you watch him, the first thing you notice is his motor—he never takes a play off and gives 100 percent every snap. He’s incredibly agile and athletic, and he’s the type of player who lines up, resets, and goes again in a relentless cycle. What I’ve always admired about his game is how unpredictable he can be—you never know how he’s going to attack. One moment you don’t expect him to push you back, and the next… he’s doing exactly that. He can line up on either end and get to the quarterback in under five seconds. As dominant as he is rushing the passer, I also appreciate how well he sets the edge and remains just as consistent against the run. Many defenders today impact the game situationally, but that’s not number 51—he’s effective in all areas. Run or pass, first down or third down, it doesn’t matter. Those are the types of players you want to play with, not against.
I remember the 2023 draft like it was yesterday. The Texans had back-to-back picks in the top three and selected C. J. Stroud at No. 2 and Will at No. 3, as I mentioned—and those two have become cornerstones of the franchise. Will is the best defensive player the Texans have had since the days of J. J. Watt, and I remember the tear he was on in the 2010s. Since entering the league, Will has steadily climbed and developed into an even better player. The Texans had one of the best defenses in the league last year, and he was a major reason why. Now, they’ve locked up their best player for the foreseeable future.
