Nothing says “football is back” like the broadcast of Sunday Splash! reports Saturday.
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, according to ESPN no agreement will be reached before the start of the season. Which means they will now wait until the season is over to assess the situation.
The notion that there won’t be an in-season deal was already known. GM Nick Caserio said so recently.
The idea that there won’t be a deal before Week 1 wasn’t set in stone, but the handwriting was on the wall in permanent marker.
Would the Texans sign Stroud to a deal based on his performances to date? yes. Would Stroud accept it? No.
Houston’s favored range likely won’t drop based on 2026. A strong year from Stroud could push it much higher.
Even after this coming season, there may be no reason for the Texans to rush him. Stroud remains under contract through 2027. They would be negotiating against themselves, like the Dolphins did when they dealt Tua Tagovailoa for what turned out to be a disaster the market is the market agreement in 2024.
In fact, the Texans could let him ride for two more years, with the franchise tag in their back pockets in case Stroud unexpectedly reaches a higher level of performance.
If he was already there, the Texans wouldn’t hesitate to pay him. They did it after three seasons with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. They did it after three seasons with linebacker Will Anderson.
They would have done it with Stroud too. But only in the number that properly reflects his place in a range that now stretches from $20 million a year to $64 million a year.
The Texans remain committed to Stroud. They didn’t bench him in the first half of a disastrous division-round game against the Patriots, even though they probably should have. They want him to become a player that forces the Texans to pay him big money.
For now, Stroud needs to go out and show he deserves it.
