Former Ohio State star quarterback C.J. Stroud is heading into year four with plenty to prove, and his name is already popping up on a hot-seat list.
Stroud’s NFL story started with a bang in 2023, when he arrived in Houston and immediately changed the feel of the Texans. The Panthers took Bryce Young first overall, Stroud slipped to the Texans at No. 2, and Houston wound up with the quarterback who helped push the team into the playoffs. There, the Texans knocked off the Browns in the first round and came close to reaching the AFC Championship Game before falling just short against the Ravens.
The next season brought a statistical dip, but the Texans still won their division and returned to the postseason. They handled the Chargers in the first round before losing to the Chiefs in the Divisional round.
Last season was his roughest yet. Stroud’s numbers dropped again, injuries were part of the mix, and he appeared in only 14 games.
Even so, Houston made it back to the playoffs and advanced to the second round once more. He led the Texans past the Steelers in the Wild Card round, then turned in a brutal performance against the New England Patriots in the Divisional round.
That final game was especially ugly. Stroud finished 20 for 47 for 212 yards, with one touchdown and four interceptions, and the source notes that it could have easily been six picks. It was a miserable ending to the season and left a sour taste heading into the offseason.
Now he enters year four without an extension, and the pressure is building. NFL on Fox’s Henry McKenna ranked the top seven quarterbacks on the hot seat heading into 2026, and Stroud landed at No. 2, behind only Bryce Young.
The concern isn’t that Stroud’s career is in danger. It’s that his hold on Houston could get uncomfortable fast.
In his rookie year, the Texans were winning because of him. Over the last two seasons, they’ve been winning with him, or even in spite of him.
That’s why the start of next season matters so much. A strong opening stretch would cool everything off quickly. But if he stumbles out of the gate, the questions from last year’s playoff collapse are going to come roaring right back.
In Other News...
Matt Patricia Immediately Changed The Standard For Ohio State's Defense
When Matt Patricia arrived as Ohio States defensive coordinator last year, he wasted little time changing the standard in the room. His first challenge to the Buckeyes was as much about accountability as scheme, pushing players to evaluate themselves and each other and setting a tone that made every rep feel like it mattered. For a defense full of high-end talent, it was a blunt reminder that production alone would not be enough.
Caleb Downs said that approach helped him grow into a more complete player, one who was asked to handle multiple safety responsibilities and think like a pro. The experience gave him a taste of NFL-level demands while he was still in Columbus, and it is part of why Patricias impact has resonated beyond one season. The bigger question now is how much of that standard Ohio State can keep carrying forward without the player who benefited most from it. [Read more 🡒]
Arthur Smith May Finally Force Ohio State To Use Every Weapon
Arthur Smiths first offseason as Ohio States play-caller has the Buckeyes talking about more than just who gets the ball. The bigger shift could be how the offense operates, with Smith describing a plan that can speed up when the moment calls for it and slow down when it needs to, a change that should open more chances for skill players all over the field. For a roster built on depth and speed, that kind of flexibility could make the offense harder to defend and easier to spread around.
It also puts a spotlight on Julian Sayin, who may need to become more comfortable using his feet if the Buckeyes are going to take full advantage of a quicker pace. A faster, more varied attack would help the running back room and keep more receivers involved, not just the biggest names, which is why Bucknuts Dave Biddle sees this as the kind of adjustment that could finally push Ohio State toward using every weapon it has. [Read more 🡒]