Texans must decide on Will Anderson Jr. extension and C.J. Stroud's future

Cbssports reports the Houston Texans face key contract decisions for edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. and quarterback C.J. Stroud after a 28-16 playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Anderson is a clear priority, the outlet says. He was a first-team All-Pro with a career-high 12 sacks this season, was the 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year and had double-digit sacks for a second straight year.

He ranked second in the NFL with 85 quarterback pressures, posted Pro Football Focus' best pass-rush win rate at 26.2%, and was dominant in the playoff loss to New England with three sacks and two forced fumbles. The Texans prefer shorter-term deals; the team has not done an extension longer than three years under GM Nick Caserio, and Derek Stingley Jr.'s three-year, $90 million extension with $89,026,026 in guarantees is cited as a blueprint.

If no deal is reached by the May 2 deadline, picking up Anderson's fifth-year option for 2027 is described as a foregone conclusion. The 2026 transition tag for defensive ends projects to 6.739% of the 2026 salary cap (it was 7.118% for 2025), and the piece notes that if the 2026 cap were $300 million the defensive end figure would be $20.216 million.

Key Topics

Sports, Will Anderson Jr, C.j. Stroud, Houston Texans, Derek Stingley Jr, Nick Caserio