One of the top young pass-rushers in the NFL pointed to one of the ascending young offensive tackles in the NFL as the best offensive lineman he’s faced in the league so far.
In an interview with Kevin Clark of ESPN, Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. picked Green Bay Packers right tackle Zach Tom — who could use more outside recognition — as the top lineman he’s faced in the NFL.
“He’s legit,” Anderson told Clark. “He’s a quick setter. He punches really quick, and he has a really good step, kick off the ball. He’s good. He’s on the leaner side. Quick feet, explosive hands, he gets back really well.”
Anderson, the third overall pick in the 2023 draft and the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, has 18 total sacks, 26 tackles for loss and 41 quarterback hits over 29 regular season games to start his career. He added 3.5 more sacks during the postseason in 2024.
Tom was a fourth-round pick in 2022 but has established himself as one of the true up-and-coming tackles in the game. As a starter at right tackle over the last two seasons, Tom has allowed only six total sacks and 65 total pressures across over 1,300 pass-blocking snaps, and he’s steadily improved as a run blocker.
When the Packers faced the Texans in Week 7, Anderson had only three pressures, and his only sack came against left tackle Rasheed Walker. Tom was charged with allowing only two pressures and zero sacks.
Overall in 2024, Tom was the fourth highest graded player at offensive tackle at Pro Football Focus.
Tom had a Pro Bowl resume but wasn’t even an alternate this past season. More comments like Anderson’s will help get the word out nationally. Inside the league, Tom — who will likely get a new deal from the Packers before the start of the 2025 season — is viewed as a top player at a premium position in the NFL.