What Should the Houston Texans Do with Their 24-Year-Old Quarterback in 2026?
The Houston Texans had an impressive 2025 season, finishing 12-5 and making the playoffs for the third straight year. However, despite being the third season in a row to reach the postseason, it ended the same way: a Divisional Round loss. As a franchise since 2002, the Texans have never made it to the AFC Championship Game. DeMeco Ryans became the head coach in 2023, leading successful regular seasons but being unable to get it done in the playoffs. His quarterback, C.J. Stroud, has been along for the ride in all three years since being drafted with the second overall pick in 2023.
Stroud had an interesting season last year, throwing for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year, to put it in perspective, threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions in his first season. Stroud set the league on fire, but has since been able to replicate the magic he had in his rookie campaign. He suffered a concussion last season in Week Nine that sidelined him for three weeks before he was able to return to the field. The injury was a bit of a setback for his 2025 season, but his performances before it happened had not been at the level fans expected by his third season in the NFL. Looking ahead into 2026, the Texans will now be faced with an interesting decision regarding the future of their quarterback if they want to bounce back after another playoff loss.
As things stand, there are currently no immediate plans for a long-term contract extension for Stroud. The team picked up his fifth-year option, which keeps him under contract until 2027. The former Pro Bowler has decided to focus on football strictly and continue to play under his rookie contract, while he lets his agent handle the negotiations with the Texans. Through the offseason so far, fans have noticed Stroud posing a much leaner look, potentially looking to shake things up in how he’s able to move around the pocket and focus on being more technical. His contract will be one to continue to monitor as the season approaches, as whether or not Houston feels that Stroud can be the future of this team is unknown.
