Why Texans aren't making long-term commitment to C.J. Stroud

TL;DR

The Houston Texans have picked up C.J. Stroud's fifth-year option but are not committing to a long-term contract extension at this time. This decision contrasts with the trend of NFL teams securing young quarterbacks with long-term deals.

Key points

Texans picked up C.J. Stroud's fifth-year option
No long-term contract extension for Stroud yet
Contrasts with typical NFL practices for young quarterbacks

Houston TexansC.J. Stroud

Why Texans aren't making long-term commitment to C.J. Stroud originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Most NFL teams hustle to get long-term contract extensions done with their young quarterbacks.

That's not what the Houston Texans have done with C.J. Stroud, though.

Stroud had his fifth-year option picked up, which was the obvious move for Houston to make. But he's not yet under contract beyond that.

For now, the Texans have Stroud for 2026 and 2027. They'll still have to decide on his future for any years further down the road.

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Why doesn't C.J. Stroud have a contract extension?

The reality is that the Texans are playing a bit of wait-and-see.

"Why? Well for starters, do you remember the last time we all watched Stroud play? His performance in the team's divisional round playoff game in New England was season-endingly poor," in a new article on Tuesday. "His showing the week before in a wild-card playoff victory over the wasn't very good, either. Stroud was Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, and he has won at least one playoff game in each of his three NFL seasons, so there's a lot to like. But the Texans haven't seen marked improvement from him in Years 2 or 3, he missed games because of injury last season and the playoff flops are hard to ignore."

Q&A

Why haven't the Texans committed to a long-term deal for C.J. Stroud?

The Texans have opted to pick up Stroud's fifth-year option but have not pursued a long-term contract extension, which is unusual for NFL teams with young quarterbacks.

What does picking up C.J. Stroud's fifth-year option mean for his future?

Picking up the fifth-year option allows the Texans to retain Stroud for an additional year, but it does not guarantee a long-term commitment beyond that.

How does C.J. Stroud's situation compare to other young NFL quarterbacks?

Unlike many NFL teams that secure long-term contracts for their young quarterbacks, the Texans' approach with Stroud indicates a more cautious stance regarding his future.