C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans tried to complete a contract extension before the regular season starts, but both sides agreed to now wait until after the season to work out a long-term deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Stroud will play it out in 2026 and bet on himself in the final year of his four-year, $36.28 million rookie contract. The Texans already picked up his $25.9 million fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2027, as well.
Previously, Texans general manager Nick Caserio said that if the two sides failed to reach a deal by Week 1, talks would be tabled until next offseason.
While Stroud was more than open to a deal and wants to be in Houston long term, the looming quarterback market for the 2027 season had an effect on his decision. A quarterback contract with a $70 million average annual value is not an impossibility for next offseason.
The highest paid quarterback is making $63 million a year thanks to an extension Patrick Mahomes signed this spring. With so many young quarterbacks extension-eligible for the first time after this season, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, the benchmark is set to rise even higher.
Essentially, if Stroud has the season he is capable of, he should benefit from waiting, no matter where his contract comes in. And if not, he still has the $25.9 million fully guaranteed fifth-year option on the books for 2027 to do it again.
After a historic rookie season in 2023 in which he threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions, Stroud has struggled in each of the past two seasons. In 2024, he had 3,727 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while being sacked 52 times, the second most in the league.
In 2025, he finished the regular season with 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions while missing three games with a concussion.
