Pro Football Rumors
The Texans exercised quarterback C.J. Stroud‘s fifth-year option in April, keeping him under wraps through 2027. Whether Stroud will stick around longer than that is up in the air. With training camp about a month away, the Texans and Stroud are not close to an extension, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
When asked about a potential extension in May, Stroud indicated his agent will handle it. At the same time, though, the three-year veteran suggested he deserves a new deal.
“I think I’ve held my bargain up,” Stroud said.
That was certainly the case earlier in Stroud’s career. Fresh off three straight seasons of four or fewer wins, the Texans selected Stroud second overall in the 2023 draft. The Ohio State product proceeded to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after helping Houston to an AFC South title.
The Texans went 10-7 overall and 9-6 under Stroud during his 15-start rookie season. He threw for 4,108 yards on 8.2 per attempt, completed 63.9% of passes, and tossed 23 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Stroud’s 100.8 passer rating ranked fifth in the league. He continued to shine in a 45-14 wild-card round win over the Browns, whom he torched during a 16-for-21, 274-yard, three-touchdown performance.
While Stroud and the Texans had a tough day in a 34-10 loss to the Ravens in the divisional round, their season was a resounding success. Since then, though, Stroud’s regular-season numbers have dipped, and playoff issues have persisted.
Although Stroud made every start during another 10-7, division-title winning second season, he threw for fewer yards (3,727, on 7.0 per attempt) and TDs (20). He also tossed more INTs (12) en route to mediocre 87.0 passer rating. In two playoff games, a win over the Chargers and a loss to the Chiefs, he connected on 41 of 61 throws (67.2%) for 527 yards, a TD and a pick.
Stroud missed three games with a concussion last year, but with the help of an elite defense, backup Davis Mills went undefeated as a fill-in starter. The Texans won 12 games, their most since 2012, though the 13-4 Jaguars stood in the way of a third straight division title. Stroud’s production rebounded to some degree, as he completed a career-high 64.5% of passes, cut his INT total to eight and recorded a 92.9 rating. He posted 3,041 yards (7.2 per attempt) and 19 scores along the way. But the Texans once again could not get over the second-round hump in the playoffs.
Although Stroud threw an interception and lost two fumbles in the wild-card round, a spectacular defensive performance offset that in a 30-6 road win over Pittsburgh. The Texans were not as fortunate in a 28-16 second-round loss in New England. Brutal weather conditions and the Patriots’ defense were too much for Stroud, who completed just 20 of 47 attempts for 212 yards, a TD and four picks. He ended the postseason with a whopping seven giveaways in two games.
Five months since Stroud’s...
