When the Houston Texans traded up to pick Alabama edge defender Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, many wondered if they'd made a smart move.
Houston had already used the No. 2 pick on Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, but then made a huge jump up the board from No. 12 to land Anderson at the next slot, and the price tag was hefty.
In order to make the nine-spot jump for Anderson, the Texans gave up the No. 33 pick, as well as their picks in the first and third rounds of the 2024 draft. The Arizona Cardinals also sent back the No. 105 pick, an early fourth-rounder, in the deal.
A big part of the reason some balked at the cost? Preseason expectations that Houston would once again be among the worst teams in the league. After barely missing out on the No. 1 pick in the last week of the regular season, the Texans had the league's second-worst record in 2022. They'd also be breaking in a rookie quarterback and a first-year head coach in 2023.
With five weeks remaining in the 2023 regular season, the move couldn't look better for Anderson and the Texans, in just about every possible way.
Most importantly, Anderson is already living up to the hype as a dominant force for Houston's defense, making the same kind of impact on Sundays that he did for Nick Saban's defense on Saturdays. His latest performance sparked a huge win against the Denver Broncos:
Speaking of huge wins, the Texans have had way more of those that the doubters expected already this season, currently boasting a 7-5 record and firmly planted in the hunt for a playoff spot. With Stroud playing at an MVP level at quarterback in his rookie season, and head coach DeMeco Ryans already proving to be a grand-slam hire, the Texans are a team nobody would be thrilled to face right now.
That hasn't been great news for the Cardinals, who were likely hoping that trade-down from the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft would net them another top-five selection in 2024. Instead, Houston's pick would currently be 18th in the first round, and could drop even lower if the Texans make the postseason.
It's still early, but this trade already looks like a massive win for the Texans, and one that will continue to pay huge dividends for years to come.
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