When the Green Bay Packers acquired edge-rusher Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys last season, they promptly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
Parsons signed a record four-year, $188 million deal that pays him $47 million per year. Unfortunately for him, his title as the league’s highest-paid defensive player lasted just one season as Parsons has been dethroned by Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson.
“The #Texans and All-Pro edge Will Anderson Jr. have agreed on a blockbuster, 3-year, $150M extension with $134M guaranteed to make him the NFL’s highest paid non-QB ever,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted on Friday.
Anderson’s new contract now makes him the 10th player in the NFL to earn at least $50 million per year or more. His deal also includes a rare no-trade clause.
It’s only the ninth no-trade clause in the NFL — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Detroit’s Jared Goff, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, San Francisco’s Brock Purdy — and Anderson is the only non-quarterback to have one.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, Anderson made an instant impact in Houston.
He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award along with his first Pro Bowl selection, and followed it up with his first All-Pro selection and second Pro Bowl honor last season.
Anderson is coming off the best year of his career in which he logged 54 tackles, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 20 tackles for loss, 102 pressures, and 74 hurries — all career highs. He also added 11 QB hits.
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