Texans Daily

Texans' C.J. Stroud 'Proud' of Will Anderson Jr.

The two top rookies from the 2023 NFL Draft are praising one another.

Jeremy Brener

Apr 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; From left to right, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud (left), second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr., third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, pose for a photo at a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Apr 28, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; From left to right, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud (left), second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr., third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, pose for a photo at a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images / Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
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The Houston Texans hit it out of the park in the 2023 NFL Draft by choosing C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. with back-to-back picks.

The quarterback and linebacker could become the backbone of the team for years to come on each side of the ball, giving the team a foundation towards a Super Bowl.

As a leader of the team, Stroud was asked about Anderson's growth, and he had nothing but positive things to say.

READ MORE: NFL Trade Grades: Texans Get Mixed Reviews on Cam Akers Deal

“Man, I’m super proud of Will," Stroud said. "Just the person he is, not only just on the field, but off. How encouraging he is being, not only in my life, but in the locker room and his family and then just being so family-oriented and always showing everybody love. His mom and my mom are very close. So, I just think it’s super dope that he’s able to get what he deserves on the field and he doesn’t see a double team every play. So, I definitely love the fact that he came out with a big game and I know he has a lot more coming for him and I definitely know that he’ll continue to be great.”

Stroud also believes that Anderson is on a path towards greatness, so he has confidence that he will continue to put on performances similar to his eight-tackle, three-sack game against the New England Patriots in Week 6.

“Yeah, I would say, honestly, he’s kind of like how I look at [WR] Nico [Collins]. He’s always been great, but he just needed opportunities. He did it in college and did it in his rookie year and so he just continues to get blessed with more opportunities. So, I think he’s going to keep doing well as long as he gets the opportunities to do that. So, I’m definitely just proud of him and what he’s been able to do and I know that he’ll continue to do well for sure.”

If the Texans can have a few more players buy into what they are doing behind Stroud and Anderson, the team will be closer to its path towards winning a Super Bowl.

READ MORE: Texans Coach Praises Packers QB Jordan Love

Stick with TexansGameday for more coverage of the Houston Texans throughout the season. 

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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