The Houston Texans aren’t wasting time when it comes to locking in their franchise cornerstones. Following a rough outing from C.J.
Stroud-arguably his toughest game as a pro-the team has made a decisive move: they’ve picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal. That ensures Stroud is under contract for at least two more seasons, but the real headline is that Houston plans to open extension talks with their young quarterback this offseason.
And he’s not the only one.
Edge rusher Will Anderson Jr., who just earned First-Team All-Pro honors, is also in line for a major payday. Both Stroud and Anderson are tracking toward the richest contracts in Texans history-and they’ve earned every bit of that consideration.
Let’s start with Anderson. The former Alabama standout has been everything the Texans hoped for and more.
He capped off the season with a monster performance-two sacks and a forced fumble in a must-win game. That’s the kind of production you pay top dollar for, and based on the current market, “top dollar” could mean north of $40 million per year.
It’s a steep number, but when you’ve got a young pass rusher who shows up in the biggest moments and is already among the league’s elite, you don’t hesitate. You pay him.
Stroud’s situation is a bit more complex-not because the Texans don’t believe in him, but because quarterback contracts have become a different beast entirely.
Take a look at the top of the current quarterback market in terms of average annual value:
- Dak Prescott: $60.0 million
- Joe Burrow: $55.0 million
- Josh Allen: $55.0 million
- Jordan Love: $55.0 million
- Trevor Lawrence: $55.0 million
- Tua Tagovailoa: $53.1 million
- Jared Goff: $53.0 million
- Brock Purdy: $53.0 million
- Justin Herbert: $52.5 million
- Lamar Jackson: $52.0 million
That’s the neighborhood Stroud is walking into, and it’s a pricey one. The question isn’t whether Stroud will get paid-he will. The question is how much, and when.
Stroud has already shown flashes of brilliance. His poise, accuracy, and decision-making have helped turn the Texans into a legitimate threat faster than anyone expected.
But quarterback deals aren’t just about what you’ve done-they’re about what you’re projected to do. That’s where the challenge lies.
Teams like Miami and Jacksonville have already made their bets on Tua and Lawrence, respectively. Whether they feel great about those deals today is another conversation, but those contracts set a clear benchmark for what Stroud’s extension could look like.
Houston has time. They’ve bought themselves a cushion with the fifth-year option, but the clock is ticking. Waiting too long could mean paying even more down the line-especially if Stroud continues to develop into one of the league’s premier passers.
What’s clear is this: the Texans are building around two foundational stars. Stroud is the face of the offense.
Anderson is the engine of the defense. And if both continue on their current trajectories, Houston is going to be writing some very large checks in the near future.