Since entering the NFL, quarterbacks have feared for their lives with Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. lining up on the opposing side.
A former two-time All-American and two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner at Alabama, Anderson was expected to take over games on the defensive line when coming out in 2023. He landed with DeMeco Ryans, a former 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year and standout linebacker, as his head coach and the rest is history.
Entering 2026, Anderson has become the face of the Texans. He’s fresh off a career-best in sacks, tackles for loss, QB hits, pressures and wins, helping Houston win a third consecutive wild-card round game. The Texans knew his impact was so important they immediately locked him up on a three-year extension worth $150 million, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback for 2026.
But where does he rank among pass-rushers in the eyes of the NFL executives?
Every year, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reaches out to team executives, general managers, scouts and personnel members to find the top 10 players at every position. For pass-rushers, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and recently traded Los Angeles Rams star Myles Garrett earned the top spot and was the only player to receive a first-place vote.
As for No. 2? Despite a tight race between several candidates, Green Bay’s Micah Parsons took home the silver medal, leaving Anderson alone to claim the No. 3 ranking.
“Anderson’s steady improvement over three seasons elevated him to the top tier. He was tied with Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby in the voting but won the tiebreaker by getting more top-five votes,” Fowler wrote. “Anderson creates havoc. He is credited with causing 43 incompletions in 2025, six more than any other rusher. He has 30 sacks in three years, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award and an All-Pro honor. All that made it easy for Houston to commit $150 million on a three-year extension.”
One NFC Scout told Fowler that while Anderson has become a household name and a nightmare to defend for opposing tackles, this may just be the beginning of his reign of terror.
“I still feel like he’s underrated to a degree,” the NFC scout said. “True three-down force multiplier who demands attention and has the rare ability to elevate the play of teammates.”
Last season, opposite Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter, Anderson earned his first All-Pro honor while being named to the Pro Bowl for a second time. He posted career-highs in sacks (12), tackles for loss (22), forced fumbles (3) and quarterback hits (23).
But the numbers don’t provide enough justice for how lethal Anderson is in one-on-one battles. According to 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 who averaged more in every category was Garrett, the lone name to receive every first-place vote in any positional category, which makes sense since he’s been perhaps the best pass-rusher the league has seen since the days of Lawrence Taylor.
As for Anderson, he’s clearly become the new-look version of J.J. Watt.
“A combination of speed to power then his strength and effort,” a separate NFC scout said of the 2023 No. 3 pick. “He’s better than I expected, to be honest.”
To read the full list and see who else made the cut, click here.
The Texans return for the start of training camp on July 21.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: NFL coaches, execs name Texans All-Pro Will Anderson Jr. a top-3 DE for 2026 season
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cole Thompson, Texans Wire | USA TODAY Network
