.jpg)
4 hours ago
1
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has had a terrific start to his career. He has led the Texans to consecutive AFC South titles and playoff wins in each of his first two years in the NFL. However, 2024 was somewhat of a letdown in the eyes of many around the league.
Houston was supposed to take the next step into the contenders category after trading for Stefon Diggs. Instead, their offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL and Diggs tore his ACL midway through the year.
With that in mind, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler held his yearly poll to rank every position group in the NFL, as decided by NFL coaches and executives - Stroud was left out of the top 10.
"The voting for spots eight through 11 was close," Fowler writes. "Stroud appeared on nearly half the ballots but struggled to capture the same momentum that landed him in the No. 7 spot after his rookie year. While his production was down from the previous year in most categories, Stroud had to overcome issues with Houston's offense in 2024. Most doubters expect him back in the top 10 next year."
One quarterbacks coach added that Stroud's offensive line issues could impact his confidence.
"That can affect your confidence when the protection and the playcalling around you isn't great," an NFL quarterbacks coach said. "It can all tie together. But the framework of what made him great his rookie year is still there ... Such a natural thrower of the football with elite ball placement."
Stroud's talents are evident, and he probably should have made the list over the likes of Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield, both of whom were ranked above him.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Be sure to bookmark Houston Texans on The Sporting News for all the latest news, interviews, breakdowns, and more!
English (US)