While every NFL fan and analyst around the league wants to make sure you know exactly who they think their favorite team should draft, players are usually a lot more tight-lipped in these situations. They may have some inside info they don't want to leak. They may not want to upset any potential future teammates. Or they may simply realize their job isn't roster construction.
But star Houston Texans defender Will Anderson Jr. bucked the trend and made it crystal clear that he has a preference for the team's first-round pick on Thursday night.
Anderson didn't pull any punches, though he did dial up some potential favoritism by mentioning a former teammate.
'Tyler Booker, I speak very highly of him. He's a mauler' #Texans Will Anderson Jr., on @AlabamaFTBL guard Tyler Booker @iamtylerbooker @KlutchSports @AgentNicoleLynn @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/dmXF8Lw1kf
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) April 21, 2025
Will Anderson Jr. Wants Texans to Draft Tyler Booker
Anderson named Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker as his preferred first-round pick for the Texans. Anderson and Booker overlapped at Alabama for one year, when Anderson was a junior and Booker was a freshman in 2022.
So while Anderson has some first-hand experience with how good Booker is, he certainly didn't get to experience what made him a potential first-round pick, or what might make him worthy of being selected at No. 25 overall.
Crimson Tide bias aside, though, it really wouldn't be a bad choice. The Texans should obviously be going offensive line with their first-round pick, and Booker is a really intriguing prospect. He's a big tackle at 6-foot-5 and 321 pounds, and he has the power and strength to continue bullying defenders at the NFL level. Anderson is absolutely on point with describing him as a "mauler."
But there are some questions about how raw his skills are. He won't be able to rely on pure power against NFL defensive linemen, and his game will need some serious refinement if he's going to develop into the Pro Bowl-caliber lineman you want with your first-round pick.
With the Texans hoping to remain playoff contenders while they re-tool the offensive line, a project player like Booker would be a risky move (albeit one with a ton of upside).
We'll see on Thursday night just how much Anderson's analysis lines up with the Texans front office's.