'Building For Year 2': Texans Will Anderson Jr. Looking For Brighter Days Ahead

Houston Texans rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is set for record-breaking numbers in 2024 after a dominant rookie season.

First-round picks are expected to be franchise cornerstones. They are meant to serve as building blocks and serve as a foundation for teams looking for brighter days ahead. 

First-round picks that are traded for often receive a bit more pressure. Teams are willing to hand over future draft capital to make a selection for the here and now. 

Will Anderson Jr. falls in the latter category after Nick Caserio shipped four future picks, including two first-rounders, to the Arizona Cardinals to move up nine spots and select him No. 3 overall. The Houston Texans were gambling big coming off their worst finish since 2014. 

With pressure comes poise. Few were as poised as Anderson off the edge during his first season at NRG Stadium. 

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“There’s always room for improvement," said Anderson Monday. "For me, it’s staying focused and staying the course and running my own race. Get better, keep growing, keep being a leader. I know the system now. I can’t wait for next year.”

Next year can't arrive soon enough for fans of the franchise who watched mediocre play over four seasons. Houston won a combined 11 games from 2000-2022. 

They won 11 games a year later with the arrivals of Anderson, head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud. The trio is all up for significant hardware entering the final stages of the regular season. 

Ryans, a former Pro Bowl linebacker for Houston, is considered a front-runner to Coach of the Year after guiding the Texans on a seven-win turnaround. 

Stroud, who became the fifth rookie passer to throw for 4,000-plus yards in their first season, is the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

Anderson faces slight competition for Defensive Rookie of the Year against names like Philadelphia Eagles Jalen Carter or Detriot Lions and former Alabama teammate Brian Branch, but he does have the numbers to make a claim. 

C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. Sweep Rookies of the Year? One Outlet Thinks So

Anderson set a franchise rookie record for sacks with seven quarterback takedowns in 15 regular-season games. He had 45 total tackles, 22 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss. 

“Cut the tape on," said Stroud of Anderson's chances to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. "We played him my freshman year of college. He might not always make the play, but he’s one of the reasons why it’s made. He’s going to set the edge. He’s going to take on a double-team. He’s going to make somebody miss to set somebody else free. It’s not just the stats. He’s always affected the game in a lot of ways by just being a great player.”

While setting the rookie sack record will serve as a measuring stick in his career, Anderson admitted it took time for his development. He credited veterans like Jonathan Greenard, Jerry Hughes and Sheldon Rankins for pulling him aside to point out minor gaps in the offensive line that could create exponential opportunities. 

“That’s how my game was taken to the next level the second half of the season, just by recognizing those little things,” said Anderson. “It’s the scheme and noticing things were a little different and how they were using me." 

But Anderson is still young and learning how to be on his own. Life in Tuscaloosa differs from the pros. It's work non-stop while donning the Crimson and White. From practice to workouts to study hall to film study, go go go. 

When's the time to breathe? Enjoy the moment? Savor the memories. 

Anderson said Greenard served as an "older brother figure" that allowed him to act like a kid and become "little Will" for a while. The free-agent pass-rusher often invited Anderson over for the holidays or would join him out for dinner. 

Savoring the moment factors into Anderson's journey. One of the biggest lessons he'll take away from this season is to not take the game for granted. A tackle on Sunday might end up being the last time on the field and it's best to embrace the little things that bring joy. 

"You have to take advantage of every opportunity you have, every conversation you have, just whenever you walk by somebody, speak," said Anderson. "How do you treat others around you?" 

Why is Will Anderson Jr. So Confident in Texans' Future?

Anderson won't have too much time to rest. Next week, he heads down to Orlando, Fla., along with left tackle Laremy Tunsil for Pro Bowl festivities. After that, he'll likely be in attendance for the NFL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas alongside Stroud. 

And then, it's back to work. Good. Anderson wants to prepare for next season and only build off a promising rookie season. He said he intends to keep honing his pass rush skills and plans on adding more muscle to strengthen himself defending the run. 

This is just the start for Anderson, but people are taking notice. Over the past several weeks, pass rushers like Ravens Jadeveon Clowney, Browns Myles Garrett and others have dapped him up and left him with the same message. 

“Y’all are building something special over there, bro,” Anderson recalled. “Just keep going, keep being a leader, keep changing the culture over there."