In his second season, C.J. Stroud led the Houston Texans to the playoffs but individually took a step back in 2024. He fell out of the top 10 quarterbacks as a result.
Stroud is entering a critical third season with the Texans, and the organization has gone about getting him back on the trajectory he appeared on as a rookie, when he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors.
That has included a new offensive coordinator and line, both of which should be improved.
“That can affect your confidence when the protection and the playcalling around you isn’t great,” an anonymous NFL quarterbacks coach said, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on July 14. “It can all tie together. But the framework of what made him great his rookie year is still there … Such a natural thrower of the football with elite ball placement.”
“The voting for spots eight through 11 was close. Stroud appeared on nearly half the ballots but struggled to capture the same momentum that landed him in the No. 7 spot after his rookie year,” Fowler wrote. “While his production was down from the previous year in most categories, Stroud had to overcome issues with Houston’s offense in 2024. Most doubters expect him back in the top 10 next year.”
Stroud led the Texans to one more victory in 2024 than in 2023, but he also threw for 381 fewer yards, 3 fewer touchdowns, and 7 more interceptions.
His completion percentage dipped 0.7%, too. Most notably, though, Stroud absorbed 14 more sacks in his second NFL season, and the Texans have worked to remedy that as much as they can this offseason.
Former Texans QB Defends C.J. Stroud
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after being defeated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Playoff.
Former Texans quarterback Dan Orlovsky, now an analyst for ESPN, took issue with Stroud falling out of the top 10 despite having similar production with a depleted supporting cast.
Orlovsky called Stroud’s omission one of his two “biggest issues” with the list.
“C.J. Stroud not being on the list is, I think, silly, dumb, idiotic,” Orlovsky said on “First Take” on July 14. “Disaster around him, and puts up somewhat similar performance-wise. So, the guy that people were saying, ‘Hey, he’s the next Joe Burrow. Top-five player,’ all of a sudden is out of the top 10?”
Stroud ranked seventh on the 2024 list, with his highest spot at No. 2 and his lowest unranked.
Fowler noted Stroud landed on 90% of the “nearly 80 voters’” ballots after his rookie year with the Texans.
C.J. Stroud’s Fall From Top-10 QBs List Falls on Team
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans warms up before facing the Baltimore Ravens.
One anonymous scout did note that while Stroud was “as good as anyone,” the Texans’ QB needed to display the same kind of arm talent and ball security that he did as a rookie, which plays into Stroud’s increased interceptions.
“He set the standard for a rookie QB,” an anonymous NFC executive said, per Fowler in July 2024. “Has so much poise. He stands in the pocket and delivers the football. Stands tall. Doesn’t see colors coming at him.” Several voters pointed out Houston did a masterful job supporting him. Pass catchers Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz complemented Stroud well, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik consistently put Stroud in advantageous spots.”
Dell could miss much of the 2025 season due to a knee injury. Newcomers Christian Kirk and rookie draft picks Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel join Collins in the WR room.
The Texans fired Slowik and hired Nick Caley from the Los Angeles Rams.
It is up to Caley to put the skill players in the right spots to make Stroud’s job easier, which, as one anonymous NFL official noted to Fowler, the Texans did during his rookie season with “play action and defined throws.”
Coach Sends Clear Message About C.J. Stroud as Texans Brace for Training Camp
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