The Good

DeMeco Ryans was one of the hottest head coaching candidates after last season. The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the best defensive units over the last 2 years under Ryans. He will now be tasked with rebuilding the Texans from the ground up and build a winning culture. While the Texans defense had its struggles in 2022 it has many young talented pieces to build on. Will Anderson will be an instant difference maker and is the favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. On the back end, Safety Jalen Pitre had an outstanding rookie season in which he hauled in 5 interceptions. These two players along with Ryans have me excited for the Texans defense going forward

The Bad

With the 2nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans selected Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. I was and still am a fan of this pick. Stroud showed promise in the college football semi-final matchup with Georgia. The Bulldogs are full of studs on defense and Stroud still put up 348 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. He also showcased his running ability several times during the game. I was hoping the Texans would surround Stroud with more offensive weapons but that’s not the case.

The Texans were able to bring in tight end Dalton Schultz from the Cowboys but lack explosive wide receivers. Nico Collins showed some promise last season but he is more of a number 3 wide receiver. They also brought in Robert Woods this offseason but it seems Woods has lost a step since his time in Los Angeles. There is one bright spot for the Texans and that’s rookie Tank Dell. If Dell can develop and learn the offense quickly he has the potential to make big plays.

The Prediction

It’s important for Houston Texans fans to be patient as the team goes through this rebuild. Houston has young bright stars on both sides of the ball and a head coach that will challenge them. This year will be a struggle but going forward the Texans will only get better.

2023 Record: 5-12 (4th in the Division)

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The 2023 NFL Draft once again featured some top defensive talent in the first round. While we did see more quarterbacks go earlier than in the previous draft we also saw several difference-makers on the defensive side. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the first 5 picks were all defensive players and they all made a significant impact. Sauce Gardner ended up winning the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and rightfully so. Can another cornerback win the award this year? Let’s break down some of the key candidates.

Devon Witherspoon – CB (Seattle Seahawks)

Witherspoon was the first cornerback taken in the 2023 NFL Draft and he went to a great situation. Head coach Pete Carroll is known to develop young defensive talent and turn them into stars. Unfortunately, Witherspoon has dealt with a hamstring injury for much of training camp which has dampened his buzz. Make no mistake though when he comes back healthy, he will be a stud for Seattle.

Current Odds: +1000

Tyree Wilson – EDGE (Las Vegas Raiders)

Like Witherspoon, Tyree Wilson is also dealing with an injury to start his rookie season. Wilson is an athletic freak at the EDGE position and has the tools to be an elite pass rusher. The thought of him lined up opposite Maxx Crosby is frightening for opposing offenses. I see 5+ sacks for Wilson in his first season for the Raiders.

Current Odds: +1000

Will Anderson Jr. – EDGE (Houston Texans)

If the Chicago Bears didn’t trade out of the first pick they would’ve selected Will Anderson. Anderson is another stud defensive player from the University of Alabama. He was a dominant force in the SEC totaling 27.5 sacks in his last two seasons. Anderson is not only an elite pass rusher but he is also an excellent run defender. Along with his sacks he had 152 total tackles in his Sophomore and Junior seasons. Anderson Jr. is the most pro-ready prospect from this draft and he will get 10+ sacks this year.

* Our Pick – Current Odds: +400

Jalen Carter – DL (Philadelphia Eagles)

Somehow Jalen Carter fell to the Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft. Carter is another stud SEC defender who was dominant at Georgia. The off the field issues are a concern but if Carter can stay out of trouble he will make a big impact in Philly. Pairing him with one of the top defenses in 2022 seems almost unfair. I could see Carter starting when the season begins.

Current Odds: +700

Emmanuel Forbes Jr. – CB (Washington Commanders)

Emmanuel Forbes was a turnover machine for Mississippi State. He broke the all-time record for pick-sixes with 6 during his college career. The tall and lanky cornerback plays much bigger than his size and is more than willing to make a tackle when needed. Forbes will get plenty of chances to make his mark as he is expected to start for the Commanders in week 1. Expect to see 5 interceptions for Forbes in his rookie season.

Current Odds: +2000

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BACKGROUND

Will Anderson Jr is an EDGE prospect out of Hampton, Georgia. He was dominant, especially as a senior where he racked up 22 sacks and 15 TFLs. Due to his performance, he was named to the All-American Bowl in 2020. Rivals listed him as a five-star prospect and the top weakside defensive end at his position. He committed to play for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

COLLEGE CAREER

In Alabama, he was named as a starter but as an outside linebacker instead of his original position in high school. This didn’t affect him as he was a key member of the National Championship Team in 2021. His freshman campaign ended with seven sacks and 10.5 TFLs. His sophomore season was one of the most impressive for any player in college football. Will led the league with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 TFLs. He earned multiple awards such as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

His junior season was a “down year” as he didn’t improve his statistics from his second year. He did however put fear into the opposition as he had 10 sacks. Even with this, he still garnered multiple accolades. He won the Lombardi Award, Lott Trophy, SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American.

STRENGTHS: Physical Skills

If you can make an NFL player in the lab, Will Anderson Jr comes to mind. He has everything that makes him a multi-time Pro Bowl player when he turns pro. His first step is elite and gives opposing teams nightmares to plan and defend. His hands are incredible as he knows how to use them depending on the situation. Will has an intense motor that never goes down. Whoever drafts him will have a reliable defensive player for years to come.

WEAKNESSES: Needs To Add More Pass-Rush Moves

This isn’t a serious weakness as Anderson is one of the most skilled players in the draft. However, the difference in athleticism and skill is much more apparent in the NFL compared to college. Adding more moves will make him a much more difficult matchup for any offensive line.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Shaquil Barrett

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Will Anderson Jr is a lock to be a top 5 pick when the NFL draft begins. He appears to be the second defensive player taken after Jalen Carter. Whoever picks Anderson will get one of the top talents in the draft. He could be a game-changer for the Cardinals at 3rd with J.J. Watt‘s retirement. If QBs do rule the first few picks, Seattle at 5th would be a nice place for him, especially after the amazing year their rookies had.

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