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2026 NFL Top 100: Superstar Pass-Rusher Soars Onto List 1
There have been some incredible young talent showcasing the top of the 2026 NFL Top 100 list. With players who are still finding their footing and reaching their respective peaks, they are proving that the league is going to be in good hands over time. One player made some record-breaking money this offseason and has found his name on the list. Let’s take a deeper dive into who it is and what he did to get ranked so highly on the 2026 NFL Top 100.
Will Anderson Jr. jumps 34 spots to land 12th on the 2026 NFL Top 100
Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson, 2026 NFL Top 100
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) arrives at the stadium to play the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Houston Texans had one of the best defenses in the league last season, and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was the star of it. He saw his ranking on the 2026 NFL Top 100 list soar as he climbed 34 spots to 12th place on the list. NFL’s Grant Gordon wrote the following blurb about the player who signed a massive three-year, $150 million contract extension this offseason:
“On a tenacious Texans defense that has talent at every level, Anderson has become the face of Houston’s swarming bunch — and rightfully so. Having become the highest-paid pass rusher in the league (based on APY), Anderson has emerged as arguably the top young edge in the league. An All-Pro for the first time ahead of his age-25 season, Anderson is a two-time Pro Bowler and was the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year runner-up.
“In each of his seasons so far, his sack numbers have increased. He brings it in the big spots, too. Anderson had a 27.7% pressure rate on third down — the only player to exceed 24% on at least 75 third-down pass rushes. Anderson generated a league-leading 23 of his third-down pressures in under 2.5 seconds. Already a star defender, Anderson’s future is blindingly bright — and so is Houston’s because of him.”
Will Anderson Jr was able to stay healthy for all 17 games for the first time in his career and completely dominated. He would be named a first-team All-Pro and the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. He finished his career-best season with 54 total tackles (35 solo, 19 assists) with 20 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, 12.0 sacks, three pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and a pair of fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown). With an elite defender like Anderson, it is no surprise that the Houston Texans are considered to be the top defense heading into the season.
Below are the defensive ends who are ranked on the 2026 NFL Top 100 list so far:
100: Cameron Jordan
91: Montez Sweat
90: Derrick Brown
73: Zach Allen
48: Josh Hines-Allen
35: Jared Verse
30: Aidan Hutchinson
24: Maxx Crosby
12: Will Anderson Jr
The 2026 NFL Top 100 list is a list voted on by the players during the previous season. This gives people an insight into what they think about the players throughout the league. Each weekday, two names are announced for the 2026 NFL Top 100 list on social media until we reach the top 10 remaining. Once we get to that point, only one name is posted until the entire list is published on Friday, Sept. 4. As one of the best young stars, it will be intriguing to see if Will Anderson Jr can live up to the contract.