[2023 NFL Draft/1-3] Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama

Could’ve been challenging a 10 sack season

 

Wow, what a coup it was for the Texans to make the Will Anderson trade!!! Getting Stroud and Anderson is a draft for the generations.

At this point, Anderson looks like a future Defensive player of the year. And Stroud was already entering talks about the MVP of the league as early as this season.

Even now I will freely admit I wanted Anderson over Stroud. I’m besides myself how elite Stroud is, and I will gladly eat crow - Stoud is a grand slam. But Anderson is every bit what I was expecting he would be, a genuine blue chip / home run selection himself.

It’s so exciting that the Texans had themselves the best draft in team history.

In my opinion, I think Luvie Smith tried to sabotage the Texans future. He taunted the Texans into a potential lawsuit by the other coach who had beef with the NFL, and the Texans didn’t bite. Luvie wanted the Texans to pull the plug on his coaching fervor to win that last game, and the Texans brass did not interfere. Luvie coached that game with the vigor he’d never shown before; I think he knew if the Texans undermined him, he could sneak into the lawsuit and earn himself a substantial payout. And Karma seems to have rewarded the Texans for the bad intentions that Luvie had. McNair was visibly upset the Texans won, but he let the brass maneuver ethically.

Eventually, the Texans selected their QB and DE; but if the Texans would have had the 1st pick, I think they may have selected Bryce Young, but that dude is too small and so far he’s proven his height is an issue.

 

I would of preferred Anderson not play today if he's still hurt. The more challenging games start next week.

 

Will Anderson came up huge today with those back-to-back sacks. Absolutely crushed Tittyans drive. Loved his determination, way to play young man!!

 

J... D... F'n Clowney lol

 

Will Anderson is here because of the Watson trade. Even though the 3 unprotected 1st round picks didn’t turn into a Miami haul after the Jeremy Tunsil trade, it is unequivocally true that without the pieces to entice Arizona, they don’t pull the lever on trading away that #3 pick. The 2023 Cleveland pick, the Texans own 2nd in 2023, the 2024 Houston pick (poor Cardinal’s never fathomed the a Texans would be teetering on a 10 win season as soon as this year). So yeah, Texans gave up assets beyond the Cleveland haul, but without the meat in that 2023 1st round pick, Will Anderson deal doesn’t happen.

I think with Watson sidelined because of suspensions, injuries, rust, it was plausible 2 out of the 3 picks would have been top 8 picks. But Cleveland is a damn good team…. They exceeded a lot of our expectations for how they could win without a star QB.

Which proves the irony of ironies, Cleveland sabotaged this team of theirs with misappropriating salary to a sitting duck, while that defense and team will be wallowing outside of any Cleveland cap space in the very near future.

 

[ESPN] Pass Rush Win Rate Leaders: Micah Parsons - 37%, Myles Garrett - 30%, Will Anderson Jr. - 26%

 

Can't believe the regular season is almost over. It went by fast.

 

Makes me realize how much they miss Tank.

 

Thats why we need another WR. I really like and am a big fan of Tank, but I also recognize he might not stay healthy a lot of time so it's better to have another reliable receiver next to him and Nico. Nico isn't always healthy either, and the Texans might not pay him when the time comes...with Stingley, CJ, and Anderson looming behind later.

 

Hopkins would have been a great fit. He wasn't expensive either.

 

Exactly and having Collins and Thomas outside with Tank in the slot really would stress defenses. Like I said, you cant cover them all. Kinda like the 49ers and their skill position group.