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Will Texans pick up Will Anderson's fifth-year option? GM weighs in
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- Will Texans pick up Will Anderson's fifth-year option? GM weighs in
Will the Houston Texans pick up the fifth-year options for both All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr . and Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud ?
One should be an easy yes, while the other, despite coming off a rocky postseason, still could only benefit the franchise through at least 2027.
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Texans general manager Nick Caserio will have until May 1 to either pull the trigger and keep both players on the roster for two more years or be willing to part ways after 2026. In years past, Caserio has been mum on the subject when asked by the media.
This year at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis , it was more of the same.
"Those two players are really good players," Caserio told reporters across the street from Lucas Oil Stadium. "They've helped our program win a number of football games. So we'll kind of take it one day at a time, try to piece the team together and do what we ultimately feel makes sense for the team and our organization."
Anderson, who finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, should be a lock to return after 2026. In his first All-Pro season, the former No. 3 pick finished with 12 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles while leading the league in pressure ratio and pass-rush win-rate.
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Most expect him to become the highest-paid defensive end in the league before the start of next season, pairing alongside Danielle Hunter to create a dominant duo that could anchor the No. 1 defense for years to come.
For Stroud, his case is interesting compared to Anderson's. Despite being the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year, the former No. 2 overall pick has yet to return to his rookie form over the past two seasons. Last fall, Stroud did improve after a sophomore slump, completing a career-best 64.5% of his pass attempts while only tossing eight interceptions.
Stroud, who has 28 wins in three seasons, is not expected to be traded, but Caserio did say nothing is set in stone past 2026. He's not expected to be extended either, so 2026 will carry significant weight in terms of his future with the team.
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Right now, Caserio is confident there's more 2023 of Stroud left in the tank than the version that started in 2024.
"He's had a pretty significant impact on where we are as a program," Caserio said. "He's still a young player. He's only 24 years old. There's always room for growth and development. Glad he's here, glad he's our quarterback and looking forward to a productive offseason."
The Texans own eight picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans GM Nick Caserio discusses Will Anderson Jr.'s fifth-year option
