It was hard to evaluate Will Anderson Jr. in shorts and t-shirts during mandatory minicamp. But the rookie linebacker has impressed the Houston Texans' coaching staff and veteran players since Day 1.
Defensive lineman Jerry Hughes was the latest to share his first impressions of Anderson. His statement continues to justify the Texans' decision to trade up for Anderson during the 2023 NFL Draft in April.
Houston sent a hefty package that featured the No. 12 pick and a 2024 first-rounder to the Arizona Cardinals to move up to the No. 3 selection to draft the rookie prospect from Alabama.
"Just smart, tough, physical guy," Hughes said. "That's something you love to see early on where you have to pull him back versus encouraging him to kind of be aggressive. That's what you want to see from a young player, someone who is eager to learn and do all the right things early on."
Anderson came into the draft as arguably the top-rated prospect after recording 205 tackles and 34.5 sacks in 114 career games for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
While his on-field productivity during practice was stunning, Hughes became more impressed by Anderson's work ethic off of the field.
Hughes said Anderson comes into work early to gain extra study time with the coaching staff. When the rookie defensive lineman is around veterans, Hughes said Anderson consistently asks questions to ensure his understanding of the Texans' game plan.
"When you’re at this level, it's about mental, how can you attack opponents, how can you keep them guessing what you're doing," Hughes said. "Those are some of the best players in this league, is when people can’t really get a read or beat on what you're getting ready to do."
Hughes is one of the best veterans Anderson can learn from as he begins to build the building blocks for a solid pro-career.
He has appeared in 201 games since beginning his career with the Indianapolis Colts, and getting after the quarterback has been Hughes' best attribute. Hughes has registered 67.0 career sacks. In 2022, he led the Texans in sacks with a team-best 9.0.
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