Houston Texans third-year quarterback C.J. Stroud might have price himself tens of millions on Sunday.
Stroud flopped in a 28-16 AFC divisional spherical loss to the New England Patriots. The QB completed 20-of-47 passing for 212 yards, one landing and 4 interceptions. He additionally posted a below-average 21.1 QBR.
Stroud — who’s coming into the fourth yr of his rookie contract in 2026, which features a fifth-year possibility — is eligible for an extension this offseason. The Texans ought to train his fifth-year possibility however wait earlier than giving him a brand new deal. His play since winning 2023 Offensive Rookie of the 12 months hasn’t merited a contract extension.
Why Texans ought to wait to offer C.J. Stroud a contract extension
Spotrac estimates Stroud’s market worth is a three-year deal price $51.6M yearly. If the Texans gave him that proposed deal, he could be making greater than Kansas Metropolis Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes — a three-time Tremendous Bowl champion — by way of common annual worth. Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450M contract after the 2019 season.
Whereas gifted, Stroud’s clearly not in the identical tier as Mahomes. Throughout his rookie season in 2023, the previous Ohio State Buckeyes star threw for 23 landing passes and 4,108 passing yards. He hasn’t surpassed both mark since. In 14 regular-season video games in 2025, the 24-year-old QB totaled a career-low 19 TD passes and three,041 passing yards.
Earlier than the 2025 season, the Texans fired former offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, changing him with Nick Caley. The teaching change definitely impacted Stroud. Nevertheless, ESPN analyst Troy Aikman famous a few of Houston’s offensive problems fall on the QB, who hasn’t improved over the previous two seasons.
“C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie success for the previous two seasons. He is not the identical participant,” the previous Dallas Cowboys QB mentioned throughout Houston’s loss to New England (h/t Terrible Asserting). “We have not seen the event from him. There is a purpose for that, and it must be addressed.”
