The Houston Texans face an interesting decision when it comes to quarterback C.J. Stroud, as he’s extension-eligible and likely looking to sign a new contract with the team that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2023.
Stroud’s future extension is a tricky one. On one hand, he’s a former Offensive Rookie of the Year who has helped bring the Texans back to relevance alongside head coach DeMeco Ryans.
They’ve been a playoff team every year since he was drafted.
On the other hand, his struggles, particularly in the postseason, have been well documented. Stroud turned the ball over nine times in two playoff games this past winter.
Regardless, it seems like Stroud is still demanding top-of-the-market quarterback money on his new deal, according to ESPN Houston’s Jeremy Branham.
Texans’ C.J. Stroud Looking For $70M APY Contract
Following a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter saying the Houston Texans and Stroud are “not close” on a new deal, Branham added his own information.
The radio host reported that the team wants him at around a $50-$55 million yearly salary, while Stroud is looking for something closer to $70 million.
Clearly, Stroud is looking to be paid like a player at the top of his position. A $70 million annual salary would make him the highest-paid quarterback in the league.
Right now, Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes is the highest-paid signal-caller in the league at $64 million per year, and he has several Super Bowl rings and MVP awards under his belt.
Even Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who sits at No. 2 on the pecking order with a $60 million annual salary, has several more years of high-end production than Stroud.
It’s fairly obvious Houston isn’t going to be willing to cough up that kind of money for their franchise quarterback, and if Stroud really wants to be paid as much as Branham says he does, he may have to kick the can down the road another year before signing anything.
Stroud would have to put his money where his mouth is in 2026 and return to the same form that took the league by storm in 2023. That player would be worth top-of-the-line quarterback money.
What Does a Realistic C.J. Stroud Extension Look Like?
If Stroud and the Houston Texans come to terms on an extension before the start of the 2026 season, it is almost certainly not going to be for an average annual value of $70 million.
The number that the Texans front office is reportedly at is much more likely, and the sports contract database Spotrac agrees.
According to Spotrac, Stroud’s market value is a three-year, $154.8 million extension tacked onto the final two years of his rookie contract, with an annual salary of $51.6 million.
The hypothetical extension would keep Stroud under contract in Houston through the 2030 season and seems like a reasonable deal for all sides.
A $51.6 million APY would make the former Ohio State standout the 12th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, which sounds about right for Stroud’s current standing in the league.
We’ll see if the two sides are able to find common ground before the start of the regular season.
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