Will Anderson Jr. To Command $50MM AAV?

The Texans will focus on extending Will Anderson Jr. before the start of the 2026 season, but it will likely require a record-breaking AAV to do so. Albert Breer of SI.com observes the rapidly climbing contracts for edge rushers, and the writer believes Anderson’s next deal will likely come in at around $50MM annually.

This is a staggering figure, but it’s not completely unfounded. As Breer notes, the market was first revamped when Nick Bosa inked a deal worth a $34MM average annual value in 2023, topping the $28MM mark held by T.J. Watt. Maxx Crosby‘s deal boosted that AAV record to $35.5MM, but that was quickly jumped by Myles Garrett‘s $40MM annual earnings. Watt once again topped the list with his $41MM average annual value, and Micah Parsons eventually set the current record with his $46MM AAV.

Considering the $5MM jump from Watt’s deal to Parsons’ deal, Breer surmises that “it would be a stunner” if Anderson settles for anything less than $50MM per year. While the Texans could push against that record-breaking mark, Breer notes that the front office has shown a willingness to speed up negotiations and complete extensions quickly, as they did with Derek Stingley Jr.. Plus, Anderson embodies “the standard as a worker and a player” that coach DeMeco Ryans seeks. If the Texans were going to back up the Brink’s truck for any individual, it would be Anderson.

The third-overall pick in the 2023 draft, Anderson has quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier edge rushers. He earned his first All-Pro nod and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2025 after tallying 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, 20 tackles for loss, and 23 QB hits. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the best edge defender in the sport last year, although he “only” ranked third at the position for his pass-rush ability.

While the Texans may be eager to hand Anderson a new deal, the optics may not sit well with their franchise QB. Anderson was the second of two-straight picks by the Texans in the 2023 draft, with the team using the second-overall pick on C.J. Stroud. It seems unlikely that the Texans will be as quick to extend the signal-caller, and assuming Anderson inks his deal, the situation would be “glaring,” per Breer. While Anderson’s next deal won’t necessarily price the Texans out of Stroud’s next contract, the team may think twice about paying the QB the $65MM or $70MM AAV he’ll surely command.