Will Anderson Jr. Has agreed to a three-year, $150 million contract extension with the Houston Texans, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
The deal, reported by multiple sources on Friday, April 17, 2026, includes $134 million in guaranteed money and averages $50 million per season, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The agreement also features a no-trade clause.
Anderson, a defensive conclude for the Texans, was selected third overall in the 2023 NFL Draft after playing college football at Alabama. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2023 and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2025.
Through the 2025 season, Anderson has recorded 136 total tackles, 30 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, six pass deflections and one defensive touchdown in his NFL career, per Pro Football Reference.
The extension secures one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers for Houston through the 2028 season. Anderson finished the 2025 campaign with career highs of 54 tackles, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, contributing to his second Pro Bowl selection and first-team All-Pro recognition.
Houston now has both of its starting edge rushers locked up long-term after signing Danielle Hunter to a one-year, $40.1 million extension in March. The Texans exercised the fifth-year option on quarterback C.J. Stroud the same day they finalized Anderson’s deal and are reportedly negotiating a long-term agreement for their franchise quarterback.
Anderson was born on September 2, 2001, in Hampton, Georgia, and attended Dutchtown High School before his standout career at Alabama, where he won two Bronko Nagurski Trophies, two Chuck Bednarik Awards and was a unanimous All-American in 2021 and 2022.
The contract represents a significant investment by the Texans in their defensive core as they aim to build on recent success. With Anderson and Hunter anchoring the pass rush, Houston’s defense ranked among the league leaders in sacks and quarterback pressures in 2025.
As the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, Anderson’s extension sets a new benchmark for defensive player compensation in the league. The deal underscores the Texans’ commitment to retaining their homegrown talent following his rapid rise to elite status since entering the league.
Houston will now turn its attention to securing Stroud’s long-term future as the team looks to solidify its offensive cornerstone alongside its newly fortified defensive unit. The next step for the franchise will be finalizing terms with their quarterback, whose rookie season sparked optimism for the organization’s trajectory.
Stay tuned to Archysport for updates on the Texans’ contract negotiations and all the latest NFL news.
