The Houston Texans have demonstrated a prowess for selecting exceptional defensive talents in the NFL draft. At the NFL Honors ceremony, the team celebrated its third rookie player named Defensive Rookie of the Year, with Will Anderson Jr. receiving the accolade this season. Notably, Anderson’s teammate, C.J. Stroud, secured the Offensive Rookie of the Year title, marking the first time a Texans rookie has achieved this distinction.
In achieving this recognition, Anderson now shares a notable distinction with his current head coach, DeMeco Ryans, and former NFL linebacker Brian Cushing. Both Ryans and Cushing are revered as two of the finest defensive players in the history of the Texans. This places Anderson in esteemed company, aligning him with the legacy of defensive excellence established by Cushing and Ryans within the franchise.
The duo spent the majority of their careers as teammates, with Ryans entering the league and earning the award in 2006. Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowler, amassed an impressive 636 tackles during his tenure with the Texans before departing in 2012 for the Philadelphia Eagles.
In contrast, Cushing remained with the Texans for his entire career, earning a Pro Bowl selection along with 664 tackles and 13.5 sacks.
As for Anderson, he has accumulated 45 tackles, seven sacks, and secured a single Pro Bowl nod thus far. While all three share the distinction of winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and making at least one Pro Bowl appearance, they all acknowledge that their achievements are overshadowed by the monumental legacy of the franchise’s ultimate defensive luminary, J.J. Watt.
Although Watt did not secure the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, he did clinch the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times. In 2018, he narrowly missed securing it for the fourth time, finishing as the runner-up. Throughout his league tenure, Watt amassed an impressive 101.5 sacks with the Houston Texans and an additional 13.5 sacks while playing for the Arizona Cardinals, establishing himself as one of the most prolific pass rushers in NFL history.
Watt maintained his dominance in the NFL for several years, ultimately retiring after the past season. He stands as the epitome of success against which all Texans defenders measure themselves. While Anderson has joined an illustrious group in the history of Houston Texans players, he still has a substantial journey ahead before reaching the level of achievement set by Watt.
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