C.J. Stroud is eligible for a contract extension, but I don’t think the Texans will be excited about making a long-term commitment to him right now. As poorly as he played in the postseason, they’re probably more likely to take a wait-and-see approach.
I don’t think there’s any thought right now of giving up on him. He’s been good at times, with an ability to connect on downfield throws. He’s 28-18 as a starter, with a winning record all three years. He’s gone 1-1 in the playoffs in each of those seasons.
But since being named the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, he hasn’t ascended. Instead, his passing yards have declined each year – from 274 yards per game to 219 to 217. He averaged 12.9 yards per completion as a rookie, consistently connecting on downfield shots, but he’s been at 11.1 in each of the last two years.
Stroud has above-average mobility, but he doesn’t look to use it much. He’s averaged 13 rushing yards per game as a pro, and with only one touchdown in 31 games the last two years.
And these last two games have been troubling, with the inexplicable 5 fumbles at Pittsburgh, followed by 4 interceptions at Foxboro. He was struggling with the most basic of throws against the Patriots. Even the touchdown to Christian Kirk was a lot harder than it needed to be, showing up inside (turning it into a contested catch).
Stroud finished the postseason with a passer rating of only 51.8. In the 32-team era, there have been 164 quarterbacks who’ve started at least two games in a postseason. Only two of those guys (Joe Flacco as a rookie and as a second-year quarterback) finished with lower passer ratings.
| LOWEST RATED POSTSEASON QUARTERBACKS (2002-) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | G | Com | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
| 2009 | Joe Flacco, Balt. | 2 | 24 | 45 | 53.3 | 223 | 0 | 3 | 39.4 |
| 2008 | Joe Flacco, Balt. | 3 | 33 | 75 | 44.0 | 437 | 1 | 3 | 50.8 |
| 2025 | C.J. Stroud, Hou. | 2 | 41 | 79 | 51.9 | 462 | 2 | 5 | 51.8 |
| 2011 | T.J. Yates, Hou. | 2 | 28 | 55 | 50.9 | 343 | 1 | 3 | 53.8 |
| 2003 | Donovan McNabb, Phi. | 2 | 31 | 61 | 50.8 | 348 | 2 | 3 | 58.6 |
| 2004 | Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt. | 2 | 31 | 54 | 57.4 | 407 | 3 | 5 | 61.3 |
| 2016 | Brock Osweiler, Hou. | 2 | 37 | 65 | 56.9 | 365 | 2 | 3 | 63.9 |
| 2025 | • Caleb Williams, Chi. | 2 | 47 | 90 | 52.2 | 618 | 4 | 5 | 65.9 |
| 2002 | Michael Vick, Atl. | 2 | 35 | 63 | 55.6 | 391 | 1 | 2 | 66.3 |
| 2015 | Carson Palmer, Ari. | 2 | 48 | 81 | 59.3 | 584 | 4 | 6 | 67.1 |
| 2003 | Steve McNair, Ten. | 2 | 32 | 49 | 65.3 | 369 | 2 | 4 | 67.5 |
| 2002 | Jeff Garcia, S.F. | 2 | 49 | 85 | 57.6 | 524 | 3 | 4 | 68.0 |
| 2020 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 2 | 31 | 48 | 64.6 | 341 | 0 | 2 | 68.1 |
| 2006 | Matt Hasselbeck, Sea. | 2 | 36 | 69 | 52.2 | 435 | 3 | 3 | 68.2 |
| 2025 | • Brock Purdy, S.F. | 2 | 33 | 58 | 56.9 | 402 | 2 | 3 | 68.3 |
| 2005 | Mark Brunell, Was. | 2 | 29 | 52 | 55.8 | 283 | 1 | 1 | 69.6 |
| 2006 | Peyton Manning, Ind. | 4 | 97 | 153 | 63.4 | 1034 | 3 | 7 | 70.5 |
| 2018 | Nick Foles, Phi. | 2 | 43 | 71 | 60.6 | 467 | 3 | 4 | 70.6 |
| 2018 | Jared Goff, LAR | 3 | 59 | 106 | 55.7 | 712 | 1 | 2 | 71.7 |
Stroud, of course, is just one member of the offense. He was working on Sunday without Nico Collins, Dalton Schultz and both of his offensive tackles. In the 2024 season, Houston’s offensive line was particularly bad.
Nonetheless, three years in, Stroud is looking more likely to be an average quarterback rather than a difference-maker. He doesn’t look capable of ever moving up into the Burrow-Mahomes-Allen class of player. He might never develop into a top-10 guy.
So while Stroud is eligible to sign an extension, the Texans are probably more inclined to see another season of work before agreeing on a long-term commitment. (Stroud is signed through the 2026 season, and they’ll likely be picking up the fifth-year option, which runs through 2027.)
—Ian Allan