The Houston Texans are officially in offseason mode and we are still weeks away from free agency and the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Over the next few weeks, Texans Wire will break down each player on the roster who is signed through the 2025 season and their potential moving forward.
We will recap their 2024 season, their contract status and what their status is for the coming offseason and 2025 season.
Let’s start with the face of the franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud.
2024 C.J. Stroud season
While Stroud led Houston back to an AFC South division title, regression set in from his breakout rookie campaign. Was it because of play-calling? Poor protection? Simple regression as a player? Time will tell if Stroud’s lulls remain an issue in 2024 as the Texans look to enter the contender category among AFC threats.
Houston fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik after an underwhelming campaign. Houston declined in every offensive metric besides rushing and there were reports that tensions were high between the offensive personnel and Slowik.
Enter Nick Caley, who should provide a more dynamic approach to shoring up the offensive line while keeping Stroud upright. During his time in Los Angeles, Caley was impressed with Stroud’s maturity and mechanics that could make him one of the league’s faces over the next decade.
“He can spin it. He throws the ball,” Caley said. “He’s an accurate thrower of the football. He is a natural thrower of the football. He’s instinctive. He’s got the ‘it’ factor. And he’s a warrior in terms of his competitiveness. I’ve admired him dating back to his college days. So, I’m really, really excited to have an opportunity to work with him.”
2024 C.J. Stroud stats
Stroud completed 63.2% of his passes for 3,727 yards and 20 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He posted a passer rating of 87 and a QBR of 49.8.
As a runner, Stroud collected 223 yards on 52 carries and fumbled three times. He also was sacked 52 times in 17 games.
2025 contract status
Stroud is under contract through at least 2026 if the Texans don’t pick up his fifth-year option. Should they opt in after the 2025 season, he won’t hit free agency until 2028.
Signed to a four-year, $36.2 million deal, Stroud will make $1.03 million in salary with a $.5.84 million coming over in signing bonus. The remainder of his 2025 season will be fully guaranteed on March 7.
He has a $9.89 million cap hit in 2025.
Outlook for 2025
Stroud’s the starting quarterback. That’s not changing unless he suffers an injury that keeps him out for all of 2025 and beyond. The hope is Stroud’s sophomore slump was nothing more than a fluke and his success in 2023 is more so what fans should expect in 2025 and beyond.
The Texans must upgrade Stroud’s supporting cast, so expect them to be buyers on offensive linemen and receivers in free agency and the draft over the next eight weeks.