The first two picks in the 2023 NFL draft are still waiting on their second contracts, even as a growing list of their first-round classmates have already cashed in.
Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud are halfway through their fourth seasons and still operating on rookie deals.
Both quarterbacks have their fifth-year options exercised, and both are under contract through 2027. If nothing changes, each will be due a guaranteed salary of $25.904 million in 2027, with the franchise tag available for 2028.
For Stroud, the path to a new deal got bumpy after a rough third season, and Houston decided to carry him into the fourth year without a second contract in place. ESPN reported Tuesday that the Texans had offered a deal with a new-money value above $50 million, while Stroud did not push to become the league’s highest-paid quarterback. That number still belongs to Patrick Mahomes at $63.093 million.
Even with Houston sitting at 2-5 in 2026, Stroud’s play has taken a noticeable step forward. That makes a post-season extension feel more likely, with a contract closer to the top of the quarterback market. A deal before then is still possible, though.
Young’s situation appears to be moving in the opposite direction from uncertainty. There has been chatter that the Panthers are “far down the road” toward signing him to a second deal worth more than $50 million per year.
Both quarterbacks can sign new contracts whenever the teams are ready. And both organizations seem interested in keeping them. The real questions now are timing, price, and structure - especially the guarantees.
In Other News...
DeMeco Ryans Sends Clear Message As Texans Reset After Bye
After the bye week, DeMeco Ryans made it clear the Texans are treating this stretch as a reset, not a breather. The head coach said Houston has to clean up its own mistakes and get back to the identity it wants to play with, while also revisiting some of the wrinkles in the offense, including the Jumbo formation. He also pointed to the return of offensive tackle Braden Smith as part of the conversation, with the focus squarely on fundamentals and execution.
Ryans also addressed the injury picture without offering much in the way of a timetable. Jalen Pitre, Reed Blankenship and David Montgomery have all missed recent games, and the Texans are still waiting for more clarity on when they might be back. For a team trying to sharpen its edge after the break, the next step is less about adding new ideas and more about getting the details right. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Just Lost A Young Playmaker DeMeco Ryans Counts On
The Texans took a hit to their receiver depth coming out of the Week 8 bye, placing Jaylin Noel on injured reserve after he suffered a foot injury during the break. For a team that has leaned on young contributors to help round out the offense and special teams, Noels loss is a meaningful one, especially after he had carved out a role that DeMeco Ryans valued on both sides of the ball.
Ryans pointed to Noel as a player who mattered in multiple phases, and now Houston will have to redistribute those snaps and touches elsewhere. Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tank Dell are among the options who could see more chances, but the Texans are suddenly looking at a spot that needs to be filled rather than merely rotated. [Read more 🡒]
Texans May Have To Choose Between O-Line Patience And Draft Help
As the NFL trade deadline nears, the Texans are weighing whether to keep building around their current roster or start looking for future draft capital. One possible name in that conversation is guard Wyatt Teller, whose first season in Houston has not gone as hoped after signing a two-year deal. He has mostly filled a backup role, and that has made him a candidate to be moved if the front office decides the value of a pick outweighs keeping him in the mix.
The larger issue for Houston is what kind of path it wants to take from here. The Texans are short on mid-round selections in the upcoming draft, so adding picks would help restore some flexibility if they choose to sell. At the same time, moving a veteran depth piece would signal a shift in approach, and the deadline may force the team to decide whether patience on the offensive line is worth more than the help a draft pick could bring. [Read more 🡒]