CJ Stroud is making it harder by the week for the Texans to keep him on anything close to a bargain.
Houston reportedly floated an extension in the offseason worth at least $50 million per year, but Stroud passed on it and decided to play out his current deal. So far, that gamble looks smart. Through six games, he’s put together the kind of start that turns contract talks into a bidding war.
The Texans started the season slowly, but Stroud hasn’t followed suit. He finally threw his first interception on Sunday in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, yet he still sliced up the defense for 312 yards and three touchdowns in a win. That pushed him to nine touchdown passes on the season, and the only other quarterback with at least nine touchdowns and fewer than two interceptions is Jared Goff of the Lions.
The numbers keep stacking up for Stroud. His 1,714 passing yards rank second in the league, and he’s already cleared more than half of the 3,041 yards he posted last season. At 25, he’s also on pace to set new career highs in touchdown passes and passer rating, exactly the kind of production that changes the conversation when the offseason arrives.
That conversation is going to be expensive.
Stroud is still on his rookie contract, and Houston has already picked up his fifth-year option, which keeps him under team control through the 2027 season. His average annual salary is just over $9 million, according to Spotrac - a number that sits below Malik Willis, Justin Fields and Kirk Cousins. After turning down $50 million per year, Stroud’s next deal figures to land somewhere in the $55-60 million annual range.
Right now, only Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott are making at least $60 million per year. Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, Jordan Love, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen are all sitting at $55 million. If Stroud keeps this pace, he looks like the next quarterback to join that group.
And he’s doing it while Houston starts to find its footing. The Texans have won back-to-back games to climb to 2-4, and the offense has started to hum.
Offensive coordinator Nick Caley appears to be settling in with Stroud, and the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. could end up being a major move. On top of that, head coach DeMeco Ryans has taken over defensive playcalling.
If that unit starts living up to its ability, the Texans may be building toward something bigger.
In Other News...
Texans Suddenly Have A Week 7 Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Texans opened the week with a familiar dose of injury concern, and their first report before Sundays matchup with the Giants made it clear this is a roster still working through multiple moving parts. Several players were limited or held out of practice as Houston tries to sort through the health of key contributors, while the uncertainty around the secondary and skill positions continues to hang over the buildup to Week 7.
There is some relief on the way with Tank Dell slated to return after being designated for return from injured reserve, but the rest of the picture is less settled. David Montgomery and Jalen Pitre remain week-to-week, Reed Blankenship is still in concussion protocol, and Dalton Schultz is working back from a calf injury, leaving Houston with a few important questions to answer before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
C.J. Stroud Is Giving Texans Fans A Bigger Reason To Believe
C.J. Strouds latest standout afternoon gave Texans fans another reason to feel good about where this season is headed. The NFL named the Houston quarterback AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns while steering Houston to a victory on a game-winning drive.
It was the fourth time Stroud has taken home the weekly honor, a reminder of how quickly he has become the steadying force at the center of this offense. For a Texans team trying to keep building on its momentum, performances like that do more than pad a rsum - they keep raising the ceiling on what this group can become. [Read more 🡒]
Texans Need Their Stars To Answer One Big Week 7 Challenge
The Texans head into Week 7 with a chance to make it three straight victories, and the spotlight is landing on the parts of the roster that usually decide games like this. Derek Stingley Jr. figures to draw the toughest assignment against Giants wideout Malik Nabers, while Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson are expected to set the tone up front and keep New York from getting comfortable.
Houstons defense has leaned on its stars to control games, and this one looks no different with J.J. McCarthy guiding the Giants offense. If the Texans are going to keep this run going, they will need those matchups to tilt their way, because a tight game could come down to whether Houstons top players can win the one-on-one battles that matter most. [Read more 🡒]