Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud took the league by storm in 2023, lighting the league up as just a rookie.
He threw for 4,108 yards, tossed 23 touchdowns to only five interceptions, and earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Since then, the Texans have won the AFC South twice and made the playoffs in all three years with Stroud under center, winning at least one postseason game all three seasons.
But the former No. 2 overall pick’s production has declined every year since his incredible rookie season, and it’s given his supporters some cause for concern.
Now, Stroud is entering year four of his NFL career, and question marks persist.
He’s eligible for a contract extension, but Houston doesn’t seem inclined to talk turkey just yet, according to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime.
The Ohio State product is entering a pivotal year for his career in 2026, and it will be tied to his future contract extension.
C.J. Stroud Among QBs Facing Most Pressure in 2026
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton compiled a list of NFL quarterbacks facing the most pressure entering the 2026 season, and the Houston Texans quarterback was near the top of the list.
“Houston exercised the fifth-year option in Stroud’s rookie deal. So, the team has him on the books for another two years. Usually, clubs prefer to work out new contracts with star players to get ahead of rising salaries,” wrote Moton.
“Perhaps the Texans are a bit hesitant to ink Stroud long-term because of his lack of development since his rookie campaign…Although Stroud isn’t in danger of losing the lead job to Davis Mills, who went 3-0 as a fill-in starter last season, his performances in the 2026 term could impact contract talks with the Texans’ front office next offseason.”
It’s reasonable for Houston to be hesitant regarding a long-term contract on Stroud. It would be a major financial commitment for a player with a recent spotty history.
The 2025 NFL playoffs were not a good stretch for Stroud. He turned the ball over seven times in two games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots.
But what can’t be denied is that he’s an above-average starting quarterback in the league, and that’s still valuable in its own right.
Stroud can dictate his future contract with a bounce-back season in 2026, but until then, he’s under a lot of pressure.
What C.J. Stroud’s Future Contract Extension May Look Like
The Houston Texans have defended Stroud at every turn this offseason and believe in his ability to lead the team.
They could end up deciding to extend him this summer anyway, similar to how they did with fellow 2023 draft classmate Will Anderson Jr. in April.
While Stroud has struggled recently, he should expect to land a decent-sized contract.
Spotrac projects the former No. 2 overall pick to ink a three-year, $154.8 million contract, which would be tacked on to the final two years of his rookie deal.
That would keep Stroud under wraps in Houston until 2030.
With an annual average value of $51.6 million, Stroud would slot in between Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson as the 10th-highest paid quarterback on a per-year basis.
With the ever-increasing quarterback market, the deal may end up aging gracefully if the Texans can get it done at that number.
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