Quarterback position listed as 'Biggest' roster hole for Texans in 2026

It's no secret that C.J. Stroud played poorly at the end of the 2025 season. 

The quarterback helped lead his team to the playoffs, and even won a playoff game, but he also ended the season with possibly his worst-ever performance. Against the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round, Stroud threw for just 212 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. 

Obviously, the Texans lost that game, and their season ended. The ending also left a bad taste in some people's mouths, and as a result, Stroud's future is being questioned. In fact, Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated, thinks the quarterback position is the Texans' biggest roster hole in 2026. 

Verderame offered the following reasoning: 

Let’s have an honest discussion about C.J. Stroud. While he was great in his rookie season, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and leading Houston to a playoff win, he’s digressed. Last year, Stroud played in 14 games and threw for only 3,041 yards, while tossing eight interceptions. In the playoffs, Stroud committed seven turnovers while completing 51.9% of his attempts. If he doesn’t play better, Houston isn’t a contender. 

As Verderame mentioned, Stroud seems to have regressed recently, and that's incredibly troubling for the Texans' hopes. Stroud is under contract in 2026 and the team picked up his option for 2027, but the Texans have to make a decision on an extension very soon. 

This means that 2026 is definitely Stroud's last chance to prove everybody wrong and regain his previous form. Considering the Texans still have an elite defense, a return to form from Stroud could be all it takes to contend. 

After all, Stroud looked like a potentially-elite passer after his rookie season in 2023. The quarterback won the Rookie of the Year Award and earned a Pro Bowl selection. However, the interceptions ballooned in 2024, and his late-season collapse in 2025 killed the remaining momentum. 

The Texans have a very talented roster, so it's hard to find a bigger hole than quarterback (assuming Stroud plays poorly again). It's also entirely possible that the Stroud doubters look silly in a few months, and the Texans go on a postseason run. 

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