Is Edge Will Anderson Jr. a 'Perfect Fit' For Texans and DeMeco Ryans?

Will Anderson was one of the most coveted players in the 2023 NFL Draft for a reason. Now, he is a Houston Texan.

Matt Galatzan | May 9, 2023

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Houston Texans

The Houston Texans shocked the NFL Draft world in Round 1 last month, trading up from the No. 12 to the No. 3 spot to select Alabama edge rusher, Will Anderson.

And heading into the draft, Anderson was the one player that sources told TexansDaily.com that new head coach DeMeco Ryans coveted. Now, Ryans has his man, and According to ESPN, it is the 'perfect fit' for the rebuilding franchise.

Why he is a perfect fit: "Anderson's pass-rushing traits will be maximized in DeMeco Ryans' defense," ESPN writes. "With loaded fronts and five-man surfaces, Ryans can scheme one-on-one rushes for Anderson to use his first-step quickness and power against offensive tackles. And Anderson can also be set up well on the Texans' twists and stunts, creating open daylight for the Alabama star to get home with his high-level short-area speed. Anderson logged 34.5 sacks and 184 pressures during his three years in Nick Saban's defense, and Ryans' system is an ideal fit to create NFL pass-rush production."

The addition of Anderson comes at a great time for the Texans as well, who ranked 27th in scoring defense, allowing 24.7 points per game. Moving up for Anderson showed that new coach DeMeco Ryans is eager to turn that around in his first season.

Luckily for Ryans, bringing in Anderson could go a long way to righting the ship on defense. His final season at Alabama saw him record 51 total tackles with 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. As impressive as those numbers were, they were a "down" year for the Alabama prospect.

Anderson's best season came in 2021 when he wreaked havoc on every opposing offense he faced. He recorded 101 total tackles with a staggering 31 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks while anchoring an elite Alabama defense.

Now, that production heads to Houston, where Anderson should be the focal point of a new look scheme.

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Published May 9, 2023

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com