Will Anderson 'on track' in development with Houston Texans

Will Anderson wreaked havoc on college offenses during his time in Tuscaloosa with Alabama. After going third overall to Houston in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Texans are hoping to see him do the same for them in his NFL career.

However, the franchise has yet to really see it yet due to the limits upon him in minicamp and OTAs considering the lack of pads. That’s why, in an article for ESPN that provided updates this draft’s first rounders, DJ Bien-Aime didn’t have much to add on Anderson’s progress besides the flashes that he has shown and that, overall, the rookie is ‘on track’ in his development.

“Anderson has run with the first-team defense but only so much evaluation can be done on a player at his position without pads,” wrote Bien-Aime. “He has displayed explosiveness throughout practices with his ability to rush upfield and contain the edge.”

“We’ll learn more during camp but he’s on track so far,” Bien-Aime said.

Anderson finished his three-year career with the Crimson Tide with 204 tackles. He paired that with 34.5 sacks, four pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a pick-six. It was his junior year that truly elevated him, though, as he was sensational with 101 tackles, 17.5 sacks, and three pass deflections.

Houston needed a lot of help in this year’s draft considering they finished 30th on offense and 27th in defense in 2022. They started by taking CJ Stroud at No. 2 but then took a big leap by trading up to the No. 3 pick to select Anderson. Now, based on Bien-Aime’s intel from out of Houston, it seems like that risk is paying off on both ends so far for the Texans.

Stroud’s ball placement standing out with Houston Texans

CJ Stroud was often lauded as one of the most prolific passers in his recruiting class, in college football, and in the 2023 NFL Draft. Now, as he continues to work towards his rookie season with the Houston Texans, it appears that that skill set of the No. 2 pick is already translating in H-Town.

In a recent article at ESPN, reporters for NFL Nation updated the latest on this year’s crop of first-round draft picks. When it came to Stroud, DJ Bien-Aime noted how Stroud’s ball placement and accuracy have been highlights so far.

“Stroud’s ball placement has stood out throughout the spring, as his passes have rarely been off target,” wrote Bien-Aime.

From there, Bien-Aime discussed the impressions of Stroud’s presence so far in Houston. To Case Keenum, he described Stroud as someone who seems like a veteran in the NFL. After that, Bien-Aime shared how that might not be the best news for Davis Mills considering Stroud’s selection as the Texans’ QB1 appears to be ‘only a matter of time.’

“Veteran quarterback Case Keenum has been impressed with Stroud’s presence,” said Bien-Aime. “(He) said, ‘I would have thought he had been here a year. Been in the league, been a four-, five-year vet.’”

“Stroud has yet to run exclusively with the first-team offense as he has split reps with Davis Mills,” Bien-Aime said. “But it’s only a matter of time.”