The first (and quite possibly the last) preseason game of 2026 for C.J. Stroud was successful. He staked the Houston Texans to an early 7-0 lead over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 of the exhibition slate.
Stroud executed the Texans’ offense as asked, and looked in command while doing so behind what is expected to be a new-look (even for this offseason) offensive line.
A new report about his supposed asking price on an extension looms large, though.
Texans’ C.J. Stroud Gets Strong Words After Preseason Debut
GettyC.J. Stroud did just what the Texans wanted against the Raiders.
The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander noted that Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans changed plans for the Raiders game, giving most of his starters the night off on defense, but trotting out Stroud and the first-string offense for one series. They scored a touchdown.
It was meant to get Stroud’s feet wet ahead of the regular-season opener against the Buffalo Bills, and the fourth-year QB delivered.
That was despite a lack of explosive plays in the passing game.
“It was a great debut for Stroud, who was 4 of 6 for 27 yards, and for half of the first-team offense,” Alexander wrote on August 20. “Much of the national conversation this offseason has centered on whether Stroud could regain his confidence after last year’s playoff performance when he threw four interceptions in a loss to the New England Patriots in the divisional round.
“But Stroud showed Thursday that he never lost his confidence. He played under control and with ease, making all the right throws.”
Alexander continued that explosive pass plays were “not what the Texans were looking for. They wanted to see how well he would run the offense, adding that Stroud converted two third downs with passes amid a run-heavy game plan.
That also succeeded.
C.J. Stroud Contract Rumor Surfaces
GettyC.J. Stroud’s contract talks with the Texans continue.
The performance comes on the heels of word from 97.5 The Fan’s Jeremy Branham, who posted on X on August 20 that Stroud’s camp is seeking $70 million while the Texans are holding at around $55 million annually.
This also follows months of reporting that Stroud and the Texans are not close on a deal following his rough ending to the 2025 season.
However, it is encouraging that the two sides continue to discuss a potential deal.
Branham also agreed with a fan who pointed out that it is important to view QB contracts as a percentage of a team’s overall cap space, not in comparison to their peers, due to the ever-escalating nature of NFL deals.
In that sense, Stroud on a $70 million salary would account for 21.6% of the Texans’ cap space in 2027, which Spotrac projects will max out at $323 million.
C.J. Stroud Following Trend
GettyPatrick Mahomes’ contract is the standard by which all others are compared.
For comparison, Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes is the highest-paid QB. His $63-plus million average annual salary is 20.9% of the $301.2 million cap for 2026. Of course, salaries are rarely flat in the NFL, meaning that percentage will fluctuate.
Still, Stroud’s rumored asking price is in line with others before him.
That is, QB’s often set a new landmark. Be it in total value, which Stroud is unlikely to surpass Mahomes in, annual salary, or even guaranteed money.
Former Texans QB Deshaun Watson’s $230 million showed the pitfalls of that, though. Still, it is not as though Stroud is far off, even if his postseason struggles spoiled the timing of his request for long-term security.
C.J. Stroud Gets Strong Words Amid Rumored $70 Million Price Tag