Exclusive: NFL Execs Warn Texans Against a Long-Term CJ Stroud Extension
from Sportsboom, with Jason La Canfora
Texans former first-round pick CJ Stroud seemed like a lock for a mega-deal after an outstanding rookie season, but now with three years of service time and eligible for a new deal, execs around the NFL expect Houston to be very careful about wading into a huge extension.
Stroud’s performance has dropped off majorly, to such a degree that one long-time NFL executive involved in drafting multiple successful top quarterbacks said he had a difficult time find a comp for the Texans quarterback’s career arc to this time.
There was uniformity in how rival execs said they would approach this critical offseason with Stroud, with all seeing major perils with rewarding him with a long-term deal after dropping in every key metric in the 2024 and 2025 season.
What’s The Concern?
Stroud’s decision-making was the biggest issue the execs had with him. His rate of turnover-worthy throws has soared since a rookie season in which his poise, accuracy, and presence in the pocket all wowed NFL brass. Things hit a nadir in the playoffs this year, and while injuries to key teammates played a role, Stroud’s incredibly poor play likely hampered his ability to cash in.
“No way am I paying him this offseason,” one general manager said.
“That’s not even an option. I need to see a full season where he looks like the guy, he was his rookie year before we even have those conversations. The verdict is out.”
Another GM said: “If they bench him and put in (back-up) Davis Mills at halftime (of the AFC Divisional Playoff at New England), they win that game. Stroud was terrible man. If that was my starting quarterback, I wouldn’t be able to get that out of my mind.”
A longtime personnel executive pointed to Miami’s mistake extending Tua Tagovailoa and Arizona doing the same with Kyler Murray as a cautionary tale. “I think (Texans GM) Nick (Caserio) is too smart to go down that road and pay this kid $50M.”
Certainly, the Texans have been at fault for systemic offensive line issues and making poor decisions with offensive coordinator hires, with Stroud not the only guilty party with regards to their inability to construct a consistently potent offense. But Stroud’s payoff failures are likely to loom large in the months to come.
from SportsBoom https://www.sportsboom.us/nfl/exclusive-texans-cj-stroud-extension-top-personnel-execs-advise-against-a-longterm-deal