Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. took home the AP 2023-24 Defensive Rookie of the Year award at the NFL Honors in Las Vegas on Thursday night.
Will Anderson Jr. Named Defensive Rookie of the Year
The Texans’ 2023 former first-round pick was among four other finalists for the award, including Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner, and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
The former Alabama prospect took home the award after having a phenomenal first season in the NFL.
Winning Defensive Rookie of the Year has capped off an impressive first year for Anderson, who also received his first Pro Bowl selection at the end of the 2023 season.
Anderson notched 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 67 pressures, 7.0 sacks, one pass deflection, and one blocked field goal across 15 games. His 7.0 sacks set a new rookie franchise record for most sacks in a single season. He also led all rookies in pressures.
For the second straight year, both Rookie of the Year awards went to players on the same team. In 2022, New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner took home the honors, and in 2023, Texans’ C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. took home the awards.
Anderson had several memorable performances throughout the 2023 season. However, his best may have come during the Texans’ Week 13 victory against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 3.
In the matchup, he recorded five tackles, three tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, four quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and one pass deflection, which led to an interception for cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. inside NRG Stadium.
During the Pro Bowl Games, Anderson told NFL.com’s Grant Gordon that winning DROY was on his to-do list entering the season.
“It was on my goal sheet, 100 percent,” Anderson said. “It was marked big on my goal sheet: NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Just to be in this position is a blessing.”
Anderson became the third Texans player to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, joining his coach, DeMeco Ryans, in 2006, and linebacker Brian Cushing in 2009.
MORE: 2024 NFL Awards Winners
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