The Texans moved this offseason to keep their core intact, extending Will Anderson on a five-year deal and picking up the fifth-year options for both Anderson and C.J. Stroud. It was a clear signal that Houston is not treating last season’s defense as a one-year spike.
Anderson’s new contract made him the first non-quarterback to reach $50MM per year, a marker that shows how far the market has shifted for top pass rushers. Houston has now exercised the fifth-year option for every No. 3 overall pick it has taken in recent seasons, and the moves give the club security on both sides of the ball as it tries to stay in the contender class.
The timing matters because the Texans spent last year with a defense that finished first in yards allowed and first in EPA per play, yet still could not turn that into a deeper run. Anderson was central to that push, posting 12 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles last season after logging 11 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in 2024. DeMeco Ryans is now 3-for-3 in wild-card wins, but the larger goal has remained out of reach.
That is the part of the offseason that still hangs over Houston. The defense was good enough to carry real expectations, and the team had Super Bowl aspirations, but injuries and poor postseason quarterback play derailed that surge. C.J. Stroud’s struggles in the playoffs were part of that stall, which is why his option year matters as much as Anderson’s extension.
The contract structure only deepens the question of how much more room Houston has to spend. The deal for Anderson is a five-year commitment, but the exact terms beyond the $50MM-per-year figure were not laid out, and that leaves the practical cap picture only partly visible. What is clear is that the Texans chose security over hesitation, betting that Anderson, Stroud and the defense around them can keep the window open long enough to finish the job.
