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Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud can throw it, but the results have been mixed over three years, with some roaring highs and concerning lows.
Now it’s decision time, as Stroud is extension eligible. What does the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year think about it?
“I’ll let my agent take care of it [extension talks]. If it’s time to do it, then it is. My job is football. That’s what I’m focusing on, just getting better. I think I kept my deal,” Stroud said during the Texans’ OTAs on Thursday, according to ESPN. “Whatever happens, happens.”
During the aforementioned 2023 campaign, which also saw Stroud earn a Pro Bowl nod, he totaled 4,108 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and a 100.8 passer rating (sixth among NFL quarterbacks) through 15 regular season games, while completing 63.9% of his passes (22nd) over the course of a year which saw Houston win the AFC South at 10-7 and make the playoffs for the first time. time since 2019; they beat the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round.
Stroud & Co. followed up 2023 with another 10-win season, a division title and a wild-card round victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. At the same time, they were Again eliminated in the divisional round, this time by the Kansas City Chiefs. In the regular season, Stroud totaled 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while posting an 87.0 passer rating (25th) and completing 63.2% of his passes (27th).
Then, last season, Stroud posted 3,041 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions and a passer rating of 92.9 (17th) in 14 regular season games, while completing 64.5 percent of his passes (20th). Houston won the AFC South and reached the divisional round for a third straight season, going 12-5. However, the Texans were Also eliminated in the divisional round for a third straight season, Stroud throwing four interceptions against the New England Patriots in the season-ending loss.
“I am a motivated person despite everything. Of course, [the playoff struggle] it helps,” Stroud said. “I’ve learned to let the failures and successes happen quickly.”
Regardless of one’s opinion of Stroud, he is likely to become a top-10, if not top-5, quarterback given the contracts a handful of signal-callers who are arguably in the same ballpark as him pedigree-wise have received; Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love are tied four-way with Josh Allen and Joe Burrow for being the second-highest paid quarterbacks in sports with an average annual value of $55 million in their respective contracts; Brock Purdy and Jared Goff are tied for sixth among quarterbacks with an average annual value of $53 million in their respective deals.
The Texans selected Stroud with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State; they exercised its fifth-year option for 2027 in April.
