Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Where does Texans' C.J. Stroud land in PFF's QB rankings?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 5/22/24

Is Houston Texans star C.J. Stroud already a top-10 quarterback after shattering expectations in his rookie season?

On Wednesday, Pro Football Focus revealed its annual quarterback rankings ahead of the 2024 season, and Stroud ranked No. 10.

"Cracking the top 10 after just one season may seem like a reach for Stroud, but man, his rookie year was impressive," wrote PFF's Trevor Sikkema. "His yards, touchdowns and big-time throw numbers all placed in the top half of the league, and he had some clutch moments and drives that were well beyond his years."

CJ STROUDDDDDDDDDDDD. #TBvsHOU pic.twitter.com/gW2PMBVIbj
— NFL (@NFL) November 5, 2023

Stroud — the second overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft — won Offensive Rookie of the Year and guided the Texans to their first playoff victory since 2019. The 22-year-old also showcased elite arm strength, recording the league's third-most completions of 20-plus yards (32 in 15 games), per Sikkema.

During a recent appearance on Cam Newton's podcast "The 4th and 1 Show," the former NFL MVP and Carolina Panthers QB praised Stroud.
"I don't know nobody that really had a better rookie campaign than you," 2011 OROY Newton told Stroud. "You won, and you made it look sexy; you were standing on business. It wasn't even your performance, as much as you were defying the odds. That market that you went in, it wasn't set up for you to win like you won."

The Texans upgraded their receiving corps this offseason, acquiring four-time Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. This could help Stroud enter the MVP conversation. As of Wednesday, FanDuel gives him the third-best MVP odds (+1000) behind Bills QB Josh Allen and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.