To say that last season didn’t end the way we wanted it to for Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud would be the understatement of the decade. When we last saw Stroud playing football, he was tossing four interceptions in the first half of a playoff loss to the New England Patriots. It was undoubtedly Stroud’s worst day as a Texan, and maybe his worst day playing football at any level.
For the first time in Stroud’s career, the fan base of the team for whom he was playing turned on him. Texan fans were questioning the future, or outright requesting a future that did not involve C.J. Stroud anymore. It was quite the 180 degree turn for a fan base that adored him after he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2023.
Where would Stroud go from there? That was the big question. Tempers have certainly cooled, as most of the fan base is, at worst, a “wait and see” on extending a new contract to Stroud anytime soon. As far as the team itself, owner Cal McNair made his feelings very clear at the team’s charity golf tournament on Monday at River Oaks Country Club:
So the team is behind Stroud, and they should be. We’ve seen him be great before and he needs to repeat that. There is proof in concept with Stroud’s potential, as opposed to whatever is lurking behind Door Number Two.
Now, comes the really encouraging part — Stroud seems to be doing all the right things this offseason, from the little that we’ve seen of him. What made me think of this was seeing this video online of Stroud at some outdoors party recently. A streamer by the name of “LilBabyTee” approached Stroud to discuss streaming and perhaps other topics at the party. She seemed very excited. Stroud did not. He politely listened to her spiel and walked away.
My reaction? “Good job, C.J.! Snub her! Stay focused on football! Keep the main thing the main thing!” With that in mind, aside from the snub of LilBabyTee, what else has Stroud done to make me feel like he’s in for his best season yet? Here we go:
Saying “no” to anything ego boosting or distracting
As the NFL was doing bits annual attempt to get alternate quarterbacks to play in the Pro Bowl, they eventually asked Stroud. He kindly declined. The Stroud of two years ago would have happily accepted, even undeservedly so. I liked that Stroud stayed home. Also, whereas Stroud was doing every podcast under the sun after his rookie season, we haven’t heard a peep out of him this offseason. The less we hear, the better.
Stroud is in peak physical condition
Take a look again at that video with C.J.’s snubbing LilBabyTee. Stroud is in excellent physical shape right now. While he seemed to try to bulk up last season, an effort which may have resulted in an injured shoulder before minicamp, Stroud is super slender this offseason. The haircut helps, too. He just looks sleeker. Hopefully, that translates on the field with more scrambling and running the football, a weapon he discovered at the end of 2024, but largely ignored after his second career concussion last season.
Stroud is reaching out to new teammates
One sign of a leader is a mindset of bringing the team together, being connective tissue across the various disciplines in an NFL building. It starts with communication, and according to a few of the new free agents (Wyatt Teller, Braden Smith) and the rookies (Keylan Rutledge, Kayden McDonald), the first person they’re hearing from after coming on board to the Texans is Stroud. Hell, Stroud reportedly swung by Rutledge’s hotel the day after he was drafted a couple weeks ago. This is a great sign of C.J.’s enthusiasm for this group of guys.
Stroud is in the building for the voluntary work
This is nothing new. Stroud has attended the offseason workouts in past years. However, this is the first offseason in which he is eligible for a big contract extension. If Stroud were to want to push the issue of getting paid, especially after seeing his draft classmate Will Anderson get a record setting deal a week ago, the leverage he has is withholding his services. Stroud is not doing that, which is awesome. In fact….
There are zero contract rumblings
According to D.J. Bien Aime of ESPN.,com, there aren’t any substantial talks going on right now between the Texans and Stroud’s camp, regarding a contract extension. This means both sides seem willing to wait, with Stroud betting on himself this coming season, and the Texans hoping like hell that he wins that bet.
