Nick Bosa comments on Will Anderson Jr. landing in Houston with DeMeco Ryans

The Texans selecting Will Anderson Jr. with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft intrigued 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.
Bosa believes Anderson Jr. could help new HC and former 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans establish a solid defensive blueprint.

"I'm pretty sure they're going to try to emulate what we did in San Francisco...and with a young guy like that, you can mold him into a lot of things," Bosa recently told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein. "I heard he likes to watch tape on me, so it'll be fun to see him try some of my moves out."
It would be ideal for Houston if Anderson Jr. reproduces a Bosa-like stat line in Ryans' system.

In two seasons under Ryans, the 49ers DE entered his prime. He made two Pro Bowls, recorded a career-high 18.5 sacks in 16 games last season, and he racked up a career-high 21 tackles for loss in 17 games in 2021.

Bosa's elite performance supercharged the 49ers defense, which has allowed the second-fewest points (642) in the league since 2021 and has carried them to consecutive NFC championship appearances. 

"Ryans envisioned Anderson Jr. as the kind of game-changing edge-rusher all great defenses have, similar to the one he had built around in his previous job in San Francisco: Nick Bosa," wrote ESPN's Kevin Seifert. 

Anderson Jr. is an outstanding prospect. In three seasons at Alabama, he recorded 34.5 sacks and 62 tackles for loss; both marks are second-most in program history behind Pro Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas.

The Texans traded two first-rounders (and more) to Arizona to select Anderson Jr. It's a huge gamble but worthwhile if the 21-year-old becomes a defensive centerpiece and a player of a similar caliber to Bosa.