Will Anderson Jr. narrowly comes away with 2023 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year

Stroud and Anderson become the fourth duo in NFL history to win both awards in the same season while joining New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner who accomplished the same feat in 2022.

The AP Defensive Rookie of the Year race was one of the tightest award races of the night with Anderson narrowly coming out on top. Anderson received 16 first-place votes and 151 total points. Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter received 14 first-place votes and 122 total points. Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle received 14 first-place votes and 95 total points.

All three players were more than deserving which makes this outcome mean even more for Anderson. After missing Weeks 15-16 due to injury, it all be seemed Anderson lost the momentum to win the award. However, he returned in Week 17 with a two sack performance and helped lift the Texans into the playoffs.

Anderson finished the season with 7.0 sacks and 22 QB hits. His 22 QB hits ranks fourth among rookies over the past 10 seasons behind Josh Allen, Nick Bosa, and Micah Parsons.

Anderson now joins linebacker Brian Cushing (2009) and his current head coach and former linebacker DeMeco Ryans (2006) as the only players in Texans history to be named Defensive Rookie of the Year.

The Texans drafted Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after selecting Stroud with the second overall pick. The Texans moved up back into the Top-3 to pair Stroud and Anderson together and the outcome has already more than paid off.

The two rookies, along with their rookie head coach, led the Texans from being last in the AFC South to winning the division crown in 2023. The Texans even took it a step further by winning their first playoff game against the Cleveland Browns before ultimately falling against the Baltimore Ravens.

The future is bright for this Texans team that has had their light dimmed for multiple years. The team is back on the come up and the immediate impact of Stroud and Anderson is a major season why.