Do the Texans Trust CJ Stroud?

By all accounts, the depth of the 2027 NFL Draft’s quarterback class will be a prime opportunity for teams to find their next franchise signal caller. More than one NFL team is stockpiling picks to make sure they can get high enough in round one to grab one of several blue-chip prospects. The Houston Texans have a former All-Pro quarterback in CJ Stroud at the helm, but do they have their leader for the next 10 years?

CJ Stroud was the second pick in the 2023 NFL draft, only behind Bryce Young, the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. The debate leading up to that draft centered around which player was the better selection. The Panthers believed Young had the greater upside, so the Texans, sitting on the number two pick, were left with CJ Stroud.

Stroud had a brilliant career at Ohio State. He was a two-year starter, throwing for a total of eighty-five touchdowns and only twelve interceptions. He was in the Heisman running both years, but at the end of each season, OSU did not win the national championship.

Could he win the big one? Was he a leader of men? Did he love football like a Brady or Manning?

These are common questions asked by scouts and coaches when a QB is drafted so high, and many people didn’t know if Stroud could provide the right answers to them.

But the Texans believed they got their man.

Stroud took the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2023. He completed 63% of his passes and threw for twenty-three touchdowns while leading the Texans to the playoffs. But over the last two seasons, he has yet to rise to the same level of excellence. And fans will remember the dismal playoff performance last season against the New England Patriots, where he threw four interceptions and looked lost on the field.

Stroud is entering his fourth year in the league and will be eligible for a contract extension. In a league where top quarterbacks are making around sixty million dollars per season, the Texans need to be sure he is the right guy to make that type of financial commitment.

The team has surrounded Stroud with Pro Bowlers at each offensive position and, in the offseason, traded for Lions running back David Montgomery. Montgomery is a complete back and ready to show the NFL he is elite. They gave their top receiver, Nico Collins, a contract extension, making sure Stroud will have his favorite target for the long term. Injured but budding star Tank Dell should return and reassume his role as a solid number two receiver. And with a little luck, he may have a big year if defenses continue to double-cover Collins. Dalton Schultz is an underrated tight end, and with Collins and Dell on the outside and Montgomery running the rock, Schultz is set up to have a career year. Even the offensive line has been retooled and is ready to be a strength.

All reports out of Houston after OTAs are that Stroud is in phenomenal shape and has embraced the leadership role on the team. He appears to be more prepared than he has ever been.

The Texans will still be known for their relentless defense, but the offense is set up for a big season, one in which the team believes they will learn if CJ Stroud is their quarterback of the future—or if they will need to visit Austin, Texas, for a review of the presumptive first pick, overall, Arch Manning.