CJ Stroud says Will Anderson Jr. is 'one of the most talented players' he's ever been around

After three years at Ohio State and a season in the NFL, CJ Stroud has seen endless talent. Nonetheless, Houston Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr. is still able to catch his eye.

After the Texans’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC divisional round, Anderson was visibly emotional. Like any good team leader, Stroud was there for his teammate. Following the game, Stroud revealed his message to Anderson.

“He was really feeling that. I told Will he’s one of the most talented players I’ve been around in my life. l told him, ‘We’re going to be back in this moment.’ I wanted to see him encouraged and positive,” Stroud recalled.

Stroud and Anderson boast a special bond. Not only were both players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, but they were taken with back-to-back picks. Stroud was the No. 2 pick and Anderson was No. 3. The pair have proven to be a wise decision for Houston.

CJ Stroud finished the regular season with 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdowns while only throwing five interceptions. He connected on 63.9% of his passes and shattered multiple records throughout his debut campaign. He is the heavy favorite to win NFL Rookie of the Year.

Meanwhile, Anderson set a franchise rookie record with seven sacks this season, beating out Whitney Mercilus (2012) and Brooks Reed (2011), who each logged six. He finished the regular season with 45 total tackles and proved to be a cornerstone of Houston’s future.

A bright future ahead for the Texans’ young pair

With each rookie anchoring their respective side of the ball, the Texans found rare success. This season was only the third time in a decade Houston has reached the divisional round. Stroud knows this is only the beginning for the Texans’ budding franchise.

“It’s been a heck of a year,” Stroud said. “Our future is bright, but these types of losses suck. That’s a great Ravens team over there, and they deserve the win. It’s tough to get embarrassed like that, but definitely, I think our future is bright. “

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans seconded Stroud’s comments.

“I’m proud of our guys for their effort, being relentless throughout this entire season,” Ryans said. “I’m proud of them for getting to this moment. It’s not a moral victory just being here, and it’s not what we set out to do, but I’m proud of our team. This team accomplished a lot this year and is looking forward to the future.”