Sports
Brazil basketball legend Oscar Schmidt dies at 68
Oscar Schmidt, the legendary Brazilian basketball player, has passed away at 68 after battling a brain tumor.
ESPN News1 min read
Sports
Texans made a massive NFL Draft gamble to get Will Anderson Jr., and they were right
TL;DR
The Houston Texans traded significant draft capital to select Will Anderson Jr. in 2023, giving up multiple high picks. Three years later, with Anderson signing a record contract for a non-quarterback, the Texans' gamble appears justified.
Key points
- Texans traded significant draft capital for Will Anderson Jr.
- They gave up 12th and 33rd picks in 2023 and future picks.
- Anderson signed the largest contract for a non-quarterback.
- Initial trade reviews were mixed due to high costs.
- Three years later, the Texans' gamble appears justified.
Houston TexansArizona CardinalsWill Anderson Jr.
NFL Draft trade value charts exist for a reason. Theyâre a good, shorthand guide to inform whether teams are getting equal value in a trade or overpaying for the picks theyâre getting.
The charts donât factor in what happens when a player becomes a superstar after theyâre drafted.
By any draft chart calculation, the Houston Texans overpaid for the right to move up and take defensive end Will Anderson Jr. in 2023. They sent the 12th and 33rd picks in 2023, and first- and third-round picks in 2024 to the Arizona Cardinals for the third and 105th picks of the 2023 draft. The 2024 picks would up being No. 27 and No. 90 overall.
At the time, the trade drew mixed reviews for the Texans due to the cost. Three years later, as Anderson signed the largest contract in NFL history for a non-quarterback after three years of stellar play, itâs hard to say the Texans overpaid.
The Texans had conviction on a player and paid a large price to go get him. And they were right.
Texans were ânot worriedâ about value chart
When the NFL Draft happens next week and trades are made, value charts will be brought up. The old chart, made famous by former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson (and available on Pro Football Reference), had the Cardinals winning that 2023 trade by a significant margin. The total value for the picks the Cardinals got was 2,600 points. The picks the Texans got were worth 2,284 points. And the gap only that close because Houston was far better than expected during the 2023 season, going 10-7, pushing their draft slot down. The trade could have been much more lopsided on paper if Houstonâs record was close to its 3-13-1 record from the previous season.
But there might be a lesson to be learned by looking back at what Texans general manager Nick Caserio said three years ago. The team didnât care about the charts. It felt strongly about Anderson as a player, and thatâs all that mattered.
âReally the trade in and of itself is just about doing what we felt was best for the team and the organization, and trades are always a product or a function of the player,â Caserio . âJust from our perspective, itâs not about what the points tell you on the chart. If you have conviction about a player and you want a player and you think the trade is the right thing for you to do, then you go ahead and do it, which is what we did.
Q&A
What did the Texans give up to draft Will Anderson Jr.?
The Texans traded the 12th and 33rd picks in 2023, along with first- and third-round picks in 2024, to acquire the third and 105th picks.
How has Will Anderson Jr. performed since being drafted?
Will Anderson Jr. has excelled in his first three years, culminating in signing the largest contract in NFL history for a non-quarterback.
What were the initial reactions to the Texans' trade for Anderson?
The trade received mixed reviews at the time due to the high cost of the picks given up by the Texans.
Why is the Texans' decision to draft Anderson considered a success?
The Texans' conviction in Anderson's talent and his subsequent performance, including a record contract, validate their decision to trade up for him.
