HOUSTON (AP) — Will Anderson Jr. wasn’t actually serious about soccer as a younger youngster however lastly tried it at his household’s urging as he approached highschool.
Back then he was a working again, however quickly his coach knowledgeable him that he’d be shifting to defensive finish.
Advertisement
The information was not nicely obtained.
“I cried,” Anderson recalled Tuesday.
Despite his trepidation, Anderson shortly excelled on the place and on Tuesday he celebrated signing his three-year, $150 million contract extension with the Houston Texans that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL historical past.
“It worked out,” he mentioned drawing laughs from everybody within the room.
The extension consists of $134 million in assured cash.
The $50 million per 12 months Anderson will earn surpasses the $46.5 million per 12 months defensive finish Micah Parsons received when he signed a four-year extension with the Packers after a commerce from Dallas final 12 months.
Advertisement
“I’ve been so overwhelmed with joy these last couple of days, nonstop tears, and it’s been a blessing,” Anderson mentioned. “And I think for me, I love what I do, and I tell people all the time — they’re like oh, the money… it’s really never ever been about the money for me. It’s always just been about walking to my purpose and doing what God has called me to do.”
The Texans chosen Anderson with the third decide within the 2023 draft, buying and selling as much as nab the Alabama standout after deciding on quarterback C.J. Stroud second in that draft.
Anderson, the 2023 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, began every sport final season and had 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss — each profession highs — to guide a Houston protection that was among the many greatest within the NFL.
His work final season earned him a spot on first staff of The Associated Press All-Pro staff and he was a finalist for AP Defensive Player of the Year.
Advertisement
In three seasons with the Texans, the 24-year-old Anderson has piled up 30 sacks and 136 tackles, together with 46 for loss. He additionally has 64 quarterback hits in his profession and has compelled 4 fumbles and recovered three.
The Texans exercised his fifth-year participant choice earlier this month so this deal will hold him in Houston by the 2030 season.
His agent Nicole Lynn was requested how the negotiations with Houston common supervisor Nick Caserio started.
“Nick and I have a really good relationship,” she mentioned. “I don’t know exactly where it started. I think Nick called me, but I think we kind of all knew that it was time for him to get paid.”
Advertisement
Everyone within the Texans’ group raves about Anderson’s mentality and work ethic. Defensive line coach Rod Wright mentioned that’s what makes him so deserving of this contract.
“The impression he makes on people is like, I’m going to outwork you, I’m going to out study you and he sets the bar for everyone,” Wright mentioned.
Now that Anderson is aware of he’s going to be in Houston for a very long time to return, he’s centered on serving to the Texans attain new heights. Houston, which has by no means been to a convention title sport, has misplaced within the divisional spherical of the playoffs in every of Anderson’s three seasons.
“Ask me about contract, yeah, the contract is cool, but ask me about winning, that’s more important,” he mentioned. “How we get over this hump, how we can get past the second round is what’s been on my mind.”
Advertisement
According to Next Gen Stats, Anderson ranked second within the NFL final season with 85 whole pressures and his 48 pressures on third down had been essentially the most by a participant for the reason that stat started being tracked in 2014.
While Anderson appreciates these numbers, to him it simply means he’s arising brief on attending to the quarterback.
“I haven’t even reached to the period of where I want to be at in my game,” he mentioned. “And I think this offseason I’ve continued to build my body up to be able to bend or to be able to finish on the quarterback. That’s the next step is just be able to finish on the quarterback.”
Anderson isn’t planning on doing something loopy together with his cash now that he’s signed this large extension. He actually enjoys fishing so he mentioned he’ll doubtless get a pace boat in order that he and his father can proceed their fishing journeys in fashion.
Advertisement
Other than that, he’s simply grateful that his dad and mom won’t ever have to fret about cash once more after they went by some lean instances whereas elevating him and his 5 older sisters.
“I think that’s why I got so emotional because these two right here, being in a three-bedroom house with six kids wasn’t easy,” he mentioned pointing to his dad and mom. “Working long nights. My mom got to work overtime. My dad working overtime… it meant the world for me to do what I do.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL