There’s no denying Will Anderson Jr.‘s value to the Houston Texans.
There is defining it, though.
That’s what the Texans did Friday in making Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a three-year, $150-million extension that includes $134 million guaranteed.
Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama, has been one of the league’s premier edge rushers through his first three seasons, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023 and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2025 while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
He set career-highs with 54 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and 3 forced fumbles while helping the Texans win their final nine regular-season games and their wild card playoff game with the Steelers while allowing the fewest yards in the NFL (277.2 per game).
Anderson’s new contract makes him the NFL’s 12th-highest-paid player overall in terms of average annual salary with the top 11 on the list all quarterbacks, led by Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott at $60 million/year.
Quarterback money has also been in its own stratosphere, but edge rushers are clearly the next most valuable commodity in the NFL.
Here’s the list of the league’s five highest-paid non-QBs:
1. Houston Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr. — $50 million/year
Contract: 3-year, $150-million extension agreed to Friday with $134 million guaranteed that would run from 2028-30 after the completion of his rookie contract, as the Texans picked up the fifth-year option on his initial deal for 2027 prior to negotiating the extension.
2025 Stats/Accolades: 12 sacks, 20 tackles or loss, 54 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, first-team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Career: 30 sacks, 46 TFLs, 6 FF, 136 tackles in three seasons, 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, two Pro Bowl selections, one first-team All-Pro selection, one top 2 finish in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
2. Green Bay Packers EDGE Micah Parsons — $46.5 million/year
Contract: 4-year, $186-millon extension (2026-29) with $136 million guaranteed signed last August after being traded from Dallas to Green Bay.
2025 Stats/Accolades: 12.5 sacks, 41 tackles, 2 FF in 14 games before season-ending torn ACL, first-team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, third in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Career: 65 sacks, 75 tackles for loss, 297 tackles, 11 forced fumbles in five seasons, 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, five-time Pro Bowl selection, three first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection, top 3 in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting four times.
3. Detroit Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson — $45 million/year
Contract: Signed a 4-year, $180-million extension last October (2026-30) with $141 million guaranteed.
2025 Stats/Accolades: 14.5 sacks, 14 TFLs, 54 tackles, 4 FF, INT, Pro Bowl, second-team All-Pro, fifth in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting, second in Comeback Player of the year voting.
Career: 43 sacks, 44 TFLs, 176 tackles, 8 FF, 5 INTs in four seasons, two Pro Bowl selections, second-team All-Pro, one top-5 finish in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
4. Seattle Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba — $42.15 million/year
Contract: Signed a 4-year, $186.6-million extension (2028-31) in March with $69 million guaranteed.
2025 Stats/Accolades: 119 receptions for NFL-leading 1,793 yards with 10 touchdowns, plus 17 catches for 199 yards and 2 TDs in postseason to help Seahawks win the Super Bowl, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl, first-team All-Pro.
Career: 282 receptions for 3,551 yards and 20 TDs in three seasons, two Pro Bowl selections, first-team All-Pro, 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
5. Pittsburgh Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt — $41 million/year
Contract: Signed a 3-year, $123-million extension (2026-28) last July with $108 million guaranteed.
2025 Stats/Accolades: 7 sacks, 10 TFLs, 55 tackles, 3 FF, 2 INTs in 14 games, Pro Bowl
Career: 115 sacks, 136 TFLs, 517 tackles, 36 FF, 9 INTs in nine seasons, 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, five top-4 finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting, eight Pro Bowl selections, four first-team All-Pro selections, one second-team All-Pro selection.
