"The Pat McAfee Show" crew reacts to breaking news of Will Anderson Jr. signing a three-year, $150 million extension with the Texans. (1:18)
HOUSTON -- The Texans and All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. have agreed to a historic three-year, $150 million extension to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.
The record extension surpasses the record deal given to Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons after the Packers acquired him from the Dallas Cowboys last August. Parsons signed a four-year, $188 million contract extension that included $120 million fully guaranteed at signing and $136 million in total guarantees.
The Texans exercised the 2027 fifth-year option for Anderson on April 8 as it was a precursor to the major contract extension. The third-year defensive end had 12 sacks (tied for eighth), 20 tackles for loss (tied for fourth) and anchored the No. 2-ranked scoring and total defense last season.
Beyond the standard stats, Anderson's advanced stats showed a difference maker in both the run and pass game. Among defenders with at least 150 run defensive snaps he ranked seventh in run stop rate (12.6%), third in run stuffs (13) and second in pressures (85) according to Next Gen Stats.
Anderson's year placed him second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who broke the NFL's single-season sack record (23).
The Texans allowed the second-fewest points per game (17.3) and fewest yards per game (279) last season, making their mark through terrorizing opposing Pro Bowl-level quarterbacks. The Texans forced the Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert, Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen, Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold into a combined eight turnovers. In those matchups, Anderson made an impact -- totaling four sacks, six tackles for loss and a forced fumble that he recovered in the end zone for a touchdown against the Seahawks.
In the Texans' playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the defense forced Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers into two turnovers for touchdowns and sacked him four times. One of the defensive touchdowns was caused by Anderson having a strip sack of Rodgers that was recovered by defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and returned for a touchdown to put the Texans up 17-6 in the fourth quarter.
Anderson's extension is part of a series of team extensions as Houston extended All-Pro defensive end Danielle Hunter on a one-year $40 million deal and tight end Dalton Schultz on a one-year extension worth $12.6 million. The Texans also made kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn the highest paid at his position with a two-year, $13 million contract extension.
Anderson arrived in Houston in epic draft day fashion in 2023. The Texans drafted quarterback C.J. Stroud with the second overall pick, then traded up with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire the third overall pick and select Anderson. To move up, Houston paid a hefty price by trading the 12th overall pick, the 33rd overall pick, a first-round pick in 2024 and a third-rounder in 2024.
Since Anderson and Stroud arrived, Houston is 32-19 in the regular season with three playoff wins and two AFC South titles.
The Texans also picked up Stroud's 2027 fifth-year option on April 8. He too is eligible for a contract extension this year.
