Stroud's rookie brilliance fades, creating a crucial decision for the Texans. Will his contract extension be guaranteed, or will they look elsewhere?
After the 2023 season, it seemed like the Houston Texans had struck gold. The franchise brought in a new head coach, DeMeco Ryans, as well as a new quarterback, CJ Stroud. Houston won a playoff game in 2023 after selecting second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the future of the organization seemed extremely bright. Things still look good for the future, but there is some uncertainty within the franchise.
Stroud had one of the best rookie seasons for a quarterback back in 2023. He threw for over 4,100 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He has regressed in the two seasons since then. Turnovers were an issue in the postseason, and the young quarterback just does not look as comfortable as he did during his rookie year.
How Houston treats Stroud in the foreseeable future will be interesting. The organization needs to decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option during the 2026 offseason. If it is picked up, Stroud will be under contract through the 2027 season; if it is declined, the quarterback will be scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 campaign.
Stroud has seemingly regressed since his rookie season, and he posted his worst performance of the season in the team's playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Stroud threw four interceptions in the loss and just seemed off throughout the night, with his throws inaccurate and him uncomfortable in the pocket.
It once seemed like a lock that the Texans would one day pay Stroud high-end quarterback money, but now that isn't so certain. He is nearing the end of his rookie contract, but the franchise could certainly look elsewhere at the position if the coaching staff does not have confidence in Stroud.
There is no reason to replace Stroud as the team's starting quarterback before the 2026 season, but he should be on a short leash throughout the year. That is especially true, since backup quarterback Davis Mills played well during the 2025 season while filling in for a concussed Stroud, leading the Texans to a 3-0 record as a starter.
It would be nice to see Stroud return to his rookie form in 2026, but that doesn't seem likely, as the quarterback has been steadily taking steps backward. An extension for Stroud once seemed like a guarantee, but now it is a question of whether or not his second NFL contract will even come from the Texans.