'I'm a hell of a football player': Why C.J. Stroud is confident ahead of the biggest season of his life — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- C.J. Stroud enters Year 4 still seeking his first extension after a four-interception playoff loss to the Patriots fueled offseason debates about whether to trade or pay him; ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Stroud "will most likely not end up with a new deal" before the Buffalo Bills opener.
- General manager Nick Caserio said the contract situation "will be something we address in the offseason" if unresolved by kickoff, with the Texans having already picked up Stroud's fifth-year option in April to keep him under contract through 2027.
- Stroud's passing numbers have declined each year since his 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year season: 4,108 yards/23 TDs/5 INTs in 2023, 3,727/20/12 in 2024, and 3,041/19/8 in 2025, though ESPN Analytics credited him with the fifth-lowest turnover rate and an 11th-best QBR last season.
- Coach DeMeco Ryans praised Stroud's camp as "tremendous," saying he "handled himself tremendously," commanded the offense, and communicated well with the line, receivers, tight ends and backs, while Caserio noted it's "probably the first time he's had a full offseason."
- Offensive coordinator Nick Caley, entering Year 2 after Houston ranked 18th in total offense (327 yards) and 16th in offensive points (21.9) last season, said Stroud has been "even-keeled every day" and that they've "dive deeper" into their working relationship.
- Wide receiver Nico Collins told ESPN Stroud is "built for everything" and teammates "got his back 100%, all the way," adding it's time to "take that leap" past the divisional round the Texans have never cleared.
Why it matters: With both sides publicly comfortable deferring an extension, Stroud is effectively auditioning for what could become a record-setting deal — or confirming doubts that surfaced after his four-pick playoff loss. The Texans have already reset market terms at cornerback (Derek Stingley Jr.) and edge rusher (Will Anderson Jr., highest-paid non-QB in NFL history), establishing the team's willingness to pay top dollar for proven talent.
Ask SkimNews
