The sting defender market stood south of $35MM per 12 months barely 13 months ago. It has now climbed to $50MM AAV. Will Anderson Jr. agreed to a monster Texans extension Friday, continuing this market’s rocket rise.
Houston and Anderson agreed to a three-year, $150MM extension that comes with $134MM guaranteed, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The contract features a no-trade clause. It is a rarity amongst non-quarterbacks, but Anderson is now (by a notable margin) the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.
Anderson will receive $100MM fully guaranteed, Rapoport adds. This significant number checks in third amongst defenders — behind Micah Parsons and T.J. Watt — however the guarantee vesting schedule might be necessary to learn here. Parsons landed $120MM at signing, agreeing to a four-year extension. Parsons and Anderson each signed off on five-year terms (effectively), as one season remained on the ex-Cowboy’s rookie contract on the time of signing. The Texans exercised Anderson’s fifth-year option earlier this week, locking him down through 2027. Although this extension provides the previous No. 3 overall pick with a large guarantee influx, the rookie deal running through 2027 will keep him under Texans control through 2030.
More to come back.