CJ Stroud’s future with the Houston Texans is now tied to a number that’s been leaked, and it’s a big one: roughly $70 million a year.
That’s the price Stroud is reportedly looking for after a 2025 season that started slowly, finished with a 12-5 regular-season turnaround, and still left plenty of questions hanging over his game. The Texans got the wins, but the year was also defined by regression in the numbers, turnover issues, and a playoff ending that went off the rails fast.
Houston’s offensive line was a major part of the problem. The unit finished last in the NFL in run-block win rate and near the bottom in pass-block win rate, forcing Stroud to deal with constant pressure while also working through injuries and changes in his pass-catching group. The Texans are expecting a different version of him now that the line has been revamped, hoping to see the quarterback get back to the level he showed as a rookie.
The postseason had two very different chapters. Stroud and Houston opened with a gritty road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the next game was a disaster. Against the Patriots, Stroud threw four interceptions in the first half alone.
That performance is part of why there still isn’t a deal in place. Houston spent its offseason cap space locking up key defensive pieces and rebuilding up front, including a historic statement by signing Will Anderson. The Texans also added Ed Ingram, Braden Smith, Wyatt Teller, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Danielle Hunter.
What they did not do was hand Stroud the contract he wants.
According to the reporting, the Texans are more comfortable in the fifty to fifty-five million range, leaving a sizable gap between the two sides. Adam Schefter said the sides are not close, and that distance could push the negotiations into the regular season or even beyond.
For now, Houston appears to be betting that Stroud can answer with his play first, then cash in later.
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