Don’t look now, but a Defensive Player of the Year season could be coming to NRG Stadium this fall if Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. keeps up his attentiveness through the summer and into Week 1.
Anderson, who last season totaled 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, seemed to be in his element Friday during the team’s OTA session, blowing past linemen and reaching the quarterback. During team drills, he used an inside move in team drills to get past offensive lineman Tytus Howard to sack Davis Mills.
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This has become a common theme in practice. The only thing stopping Anderson these days is the whistle and the fact that he doesn’t want to hurt a teammate. Since OTAs began on Wednesday, he’s been the backfield more than he’s been on the sidelines, something that’s even impressed third-year defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
“He’s on a mission,” Burke said Friday. “He dropped a move today in the pass rush setting that was a new move for him. He executed it really well. Really cool to see. He’s just really trying to work on a lot of details to climb that ladder to be the best.”
While attention is most focused on C.J. Stroud and the new-look offense under Nick Caley, the Texans‘ defense will once again be the backbone of the team. A top 10 unit in 2024, Houston could be even more improved after adding veterans like defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason.
Stroud, who hopes to earn a massive contract extension this offseason, isn’t the only player set up for a new deal. Anderson could cash in as a top-five paid defensive lineman with an impressive third year. He plans on notching at least 11 sacks and told the Houston Chronicle that one of his goals is to Win Defensive Player of the Year.
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The version on the field during drills Friday afternoon is a strong baseline to make the goal a reality by December.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. setting the tone early for a DPOY season