Colin Cowherd Reacts to Questionable C.J. Stroud QB Ranking

Stroud’s numbers weren’t the strongest during his sophomore campaign, but the Texans still managed to make it past the Chargers during Wild Card Weekend.

PFF mentioned Stroud’s protection being a concern, which numerous fans have also mentioned.

“One glaring issue remains: his pressure-to-sack rate. After taking just 39 sacks as a rookie, that number ballooned to 63 in 2024, a problem that must be addressed moving forward,” PFF said.

Cowherd, whose been hosting his show, ‘Herd with Colin Cowherd’, since 2003, recognized his sophomore slump, but also identified how it broke down.

“He did pull back last year, but his offensive line was atrocious, he lost two of his three best receivers, and he still got into the playoffs and won a playoff game,” Cowherd said.

Despite Stroud’s slump, Cowherd emphasized how his performance should be viewed in the context of his challenging circumstances. Stroud was able to show resilience, and with the Texans' continued investment in their offensive line and receiving corps, Stroud could elevate his gameplay to the next level.

Stroud is joined by Jordan Love (12), Baker Mayfield (13), Kyler Murray (15), Trevor Lawrence (16), Dak Prescott (17) and Tua Tagovailoa (18) as the 3b quarterbacks. The group description reads, “Solid Starters, but they need more help”.

With Stroud’s potential still shining through despite a challenging sophomore year, the question now is how much his support system will improve in 2025. The Texans’ focus on bolstering their offensive line and adding more weapons for Stroud could make all the difference in his development.