Texans seem ready to make expensive C.J. Stroud contract extension decision

Questions about the long-term future of quarterback C.J. Stroud continue to hover over the Houston Texans after the Texans picked up the fifth-year option for 2027 attached to his rookie contract but did not sign him to a lucrative extension before the 2026 season got underway. 

Reports from early September suggested that Stroud was willing to bet on himself through the ongoing campaign. For a piece published on Wednesday, NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN suggested that Stroud made a wise business decision. 

Could C.J. Stroud emerge as an MVP candidate?

"Stroud is fueling the offseason intrigue with his excellent play," Fowler wrote. "He is putting up MVP-type numbers, pacing for nearly 4,900 passing yards over a 17-game slate while registering only one interception on 219 passing attempts." 

Stroud being mentioned as a possible MVP candidate would have been downright laughable when the Texans were 0-4 back on the night of Oct. 4. However, Houston has since notched wins in back-to-back games, and DraftKings Sportsbook had the 2-4 Texans as massive 10-point favorites over the 3-2-1 New York Giants for this coming Sunday's matchup at Houston's Reliant Stadium as of Wednesday morning. 

As for Stroud's numbers, Pro Football Reference shows that he began Wednesday ranked 11th in the league among qualified players with a 65.6 adjusted QBR, 11th with a 100.9 passer rating and fourth with 285.7 passing yards per game. Over the season's first six weeks, he tossed nine touchdown passes and one pick. 

Have the Texans already made a C.J. Stroud extension decision? 

"Betting on himself in Year 4 should literally pay off," Fowler added about Stroud. "The Texans were willing to extend Stroud on a deal worth well above $50M per year. But Stroud saw a bigger picture: a growing quarterback market and his place in it. Stroud and Carolina's Bryce Young both appear well-positioned for offseason negotiations. And Houston's trade for Marvin Harrison Jr. -- Stroud's teammate while at Ohio State -- amplifies the Texans' feelings on Stroud."

It is worth mentioning that the Texans wouldn't be a playoff team if the postseason tournament began this coming weekend. Additionally, plenty could go wrong for Houston following the club's Week 8 bye, and it's possible that Stroud could produce another playoff stinker this coming January. That said, his future deal could become even more expensive for the Texans if he guides the team to multiple postseason victories.