Why Warren Moon disagrees with other Hall of Famers about Texans QB C.J. Stroud

Troy Aikman and Kurt Warner are two Hall of Fame quarterbacks who recently sounded alarms about the play of Houston Texans third-year starter C.J. Stroud in January postseason games. 

During a recent chat with Aaron Wilson of Houston's KPRC 2, fellow Hall of Famer Warren Moon shared why he believes Stroud will bounce back from a pair of rough playoff performances. 

Can Texans rebuild C.J. Stroud's confidence?

"I think he’ll come back really well," Moon said about Stroud. "He has a lot of pride. He works very, very hard in the offseason. And the key is to get the pieces that he needs around him to make sure he feels really confident and really secure. So he’s got a lot of confidence. You’ve got to beef up that offensive line and then make sure your skill people stay healthy. You’ve got to keep those guys healthy."

Stroud noticeably regressed from what he was when he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year Award honors for the 2023 season over the past two campaigns. That was before he was largely a liability during Houston's most recent trip to the playoffs. 

In the Texans' 30-6 wild-card win at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 12, Stroud lost two fumbles and threw an interception. The following Sunday, he tossed four first-half interceptions in Houston's 28-16 divisional-round loss to the New England Patriots.  

Warren Moon: Texans "no question" have a franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud 

Assuming the Texans pick up the fifth-year option for 2027 attached to Stroud's rookie contract, they don't necessarily have to make a decision about his long-term future before they play a meaningful game this coming September. That said, Moon thinks Stroud can still reach his advertised ceiling as long as Texans general manager Nick Caserio gives the 24-year-old a better offensive line and quality talent at the playmaker positions. 

"No question about it," Moon added about his take. "[Stroud has] already shown that. He showed it when he first got here. And then he’s shown a lot of flashes over the last couple years." 

Moon has mentored Stroud over the years, and that relationship could be beneficial for a young quarterback who has become somewhat of a polarizing figure among Houston fans. However, those running the Texans may decide to go in a different direction regarding the sport's most important position if Stroud doesn't prove Moon right by the end of next season.