As C.J. Stroud inches closer to contract extension eligibility, and the Houston Texans struggle with the Tennessee Titans up next, the outside noise is growing louder.
Stroud was the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 draft, and he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year and even Pro Bowl honors that season. However, Stroud took a step back in Year 2 amid inconsistencies around him.
Some of those bad habits from 2024 have carried over, and trouble could be brewing.
C.J. Stroud’s Future With Texans Under Microscope
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, there is also more going on “behind the scenes” with the Texans, though to what level Stroud is at the heart of it remains unclear.
“C.J. Stroud is really good. I think they are still trying to figure themselves out on offense. They have a new play caller. They have a different-looking offensive line. I still think they’re working some kinks out. So, he’s still good,” Russini said on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” on September 23.
“I’m not in the camp of he’s ruining his opportunity here to get some mega extension. I still think C.J. Stroud can play. I just think there’s still a lot of work to be done, and there’s some things going on behind the scenes that I think we’re going to find out about soon.”
Stroud’s performances have remained under the microscope amid the Texans’ winless start.
The QB has completed 64% of his passes for 599 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions through three games.
New offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s scheme has not inspired hope as anticipated. The Texans have reshuffled their offensive line and lost running back Joe Mixon indefinitely to an undisclosed injury. As the Texans’ starting QB, though, Stroud is the focal point for critics.
Cowherd: C.J. Stroud Not ‘Playing Way Out of Extension’
Stroud is in the third season of a four-year, $36.3 million rookie-scale contract. He will be extension-eligible beginning in the 2026 offseason, and his next deal could be historic.
He still seems like the long-term answer for the Texans, but he faces doubts. When one fan posed the question of whether or not Stroud was “playing his way out of a extension,” Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd defended the QB.
“Outside of four quarterbacks on the planet – [Patrick] Mahomes, [Josh] Allen, Lamar [Jackson], and [Joe] Burrow – quarterback play is circumstantial. Who’s your coach? Who’s your coordinator? What’s your O line like?” Cowherd said on “The Herd” on September 24. “There’s four exceptions. Even Matt Stafford, before Sean McVay, [had] zero playoff wins. Even Justin Herbert, who’s a leading candidate today for the MVP, [had a] .500 record with Brandon Staley. Okay?
“Now, with young quarterbacks, it’s almost entirely circumstantial.”
Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans have both noted that the former could play better going forward, but the circumstances around him have also proven problematic for varying reasons.
Texans’ Issues Widespread
In addition to Mixon, Stroud is without his No. 2 wideout (after Nico Collins), Tank Dell, who is recovering from a significant knee injury. Notably, Stroud’s trend comes as the Texans still boast the No. 5 scoring defense in the league.
They ranked 14th in 2024.