The Houston Texans are heading into a pivotal offseason, and the spotlight is firmly on quarterback C.J. Stroud.
After completing his third NFL season, the former first-round pick is now eligible for the fifth-year option on his rookie deal-a decision Houston must make before mid-May. The option would lock Stroud in for the 2027 season at a fully guaranteed $26.5 million, a figure that, in today’s quarterback market, feels like a bargain for a starting-caliber player.
And despite some bumps in the road during the 2025 campaign, all signs point to the Texans picking up that option.
Stroud’s trajectory since entering the league in 2023 has been a bit of a rollercoaster. He burst onto the scene as a rookie, leading Houston to the playoffs and turning heads with his poise, arm talent, and command of the offense.
He’s kept the Texans in the postseason hunt every year since, with three playoff wins under his belt. That’s no small feat for a young quarterback still finding his footing in the league.
But there’s no sugarcoating it-2025 wasn’t his best work. Stroud struggled with consistency, and those issues came to a head in the divisional round against the New England Patriots.
Four interceptions in a playoff game is the kind of performance that lingers in the minds of coaches and front office decision-makers, especially when it ends your season. It was a tough outing, and one that raised fair questions about where Stroud is in his development.
That’s part of what makes this offseason so intriguing. The Texans have a roster full of young stars, and the front office is going to have to start making some big financial decisions.
Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is expected to be a top priority for a long-term extension, following in the footsteps of Derek Stingley Jr., who got his payday last year. If Houston moves quickly to lock up Anderson and delays serious extension talks with Stroud, it could create some tension-not just in the quarterback room, but across the locker room.
And let’s not ignore the market. Quarterback deals have exploded.
With Josh Allen and Dak Prescott setting the bar north of $60 million annually in 2025, it’s hard to imagine Stroud’s camp settling for anything less than top-tier money. Whether the Texans are ready to make that kind of commitment after two up-and-down seasons remains to be seen.
So what’s the play here? Picking up the fifth-year option feels like a no-brainer.
It gives the Texans one more year of control at a manageable price while they evaluate Stroud’s long-term ceiling. And if he bounces back in 2026, they can re-engage on a long-term deal with more confidence.
If not, they’ve bought themselves some time without being locked into a massive contract.
There’s no denying Stroud’s talent. He’s already shown he can lead a team to the postseason and win games when it matters. But the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league, and the Texans are clearly weighing that reality against the potential they still see in their young quarterback.
This offseason won’t just shape Stroud’s future-it could define the next phase of the Texans' rebuild.