Texans expected to make pivotal $26.5 million C.J. Stroud contract decision

The Houston Texans will have to make a decision on quarterback C.J. Stroud's contract this offseason.

Stroud wrapped up his third NFL season, and with him being a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Houston will have to decide whether to exercise his fifth-year option.

Though Stroud struggled at times in 2025, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer expects the Texans to pick up the young quarterback's fifth-year, which is projected to be worth over $27 million, according to Spotrac.

"The team can exercise the fifth-year option on Stroud’s rookie contract between now and the middle of May, which would lock Stroud in with the Texans at a fully guaranteed $26.5 million for 2027, and I’d expect they will. It’s a more than reasonable rate for a starting quarterback in the current economic environment," Breer wrote.

However, Breer also added that Stroud's future in Houston could come into question if the franchise doesn't sign him to a long-term deal before the start of the 2026 season. The Texans have a ton of young stars eligible for paydays in the next few years, which could delay an extension for Stroud.

Extension talks will be interesting. After what Josh Allen and Dak Prescott received in 2025, a top-shelf quarterback deal going forward will be $60 million-plus, and it might be tough to get Stroud and his camp to take less than that. I’d also expect the team to move aggressively to lock down Will Anderson Jr., like they did Derek Stingley Jr. last year, which could create some awkwardness.

If Stroud’s contract negotiations get sticky, or the Texans prefer to punt them to next year—while rewarding Anderson—will there be friction? Could that impact the Texans’ offseason? Might someone swoop in to see if they could pry the wildly talented 24-year-old away?

Stroud has led Houston to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons and has also won three playoff games. But since his fantastic rookie campaign in 2023, Stroud's play has declined, raising some concern.

During the Texans' divisional-round loss to the New England Patriots this year, Stroud was awful, tossing four interceptions and blowing any chance Houston had of advancing to the AFC Championship Game.

Based on his play over the last two seasons, giving Stroud a long-term extension would be a risky move from the Texans. So, exercising his fifth-year option and seeing if he can put together a bounce-back season in 2026 would be the logical course of action.

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