The first two years of C.J. Stroud’s career have had plenty of highs and lows for the Houston Texans.
Stroud’s first season was a high for a franchise that had won just three games the previous season as he threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions on the way to winning the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Although his sophomore season was a disappointment with 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, he remains one of the brightest young quarterbacks in the game.
This archetype has many Texans fans thinking about Stroud’s future. But while it could include deeper playoff runs and an award or two, the latest quarterback news in the league may have Texans fans peering into the crystal ball for a look at what’s to come.
Brock Purdy’s Contract With 49ers Could Mirror C.J. Stroud’s Extension With Texans
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms on a five-year, $265 million contract extension.
SI’s Albert Breer added that the deal contains $165.05 million in guaranteed money over the first three years and $215 million through the first four years. The contract, which runs through 2030, also has $181 million guaranteed for injury at signing, and the average annual value of $53 million is right between Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ($53.1 million) and Jared Goff ($53 million).
The news sent shockwaves throughout the NFL, but it should particularly grab the attention of Texans fans.
Stroud has two years remaining on his rookie deal and a fifth-year option for the 2027 season. The option will almost certainly be picked up unless something terrible happens, and the Texans will soon have to start planning their financial future with Stroud under a big-money deal.
In the near future, it means the Texans need to do everything they can to make Stroud a winner. The 24-year-old currently has a $9.8 million cap hit for next season, and the number is still manageable at $11.5 million in 2026. While general manager Nick Caserio could use the fifth-year option to buy more time, it would benefit the Texans to get the new deal done as soon as possible in case the quarterback market shifts.
Purdy had an interesting case to make more than Tagovailoa and Goff as a quarterback who had reached the Super Bowl. But his first two seasons also have comparable stats to Stroud's first two seasons, including throwing for more passing yards per attempt, passing touchdowns, and a higher quarterback rating in his first two seasons.
Part of this is a smaller sample size, as Purdy didn’t make his first career start until Week 13 of the 2022 season. But it evens out when you consider Stroud has the edge in passing yards per game and has been in a weaker infrastructure in Houston.
C.J. Stroud (2023-24) | Brock Purdy (2022-23) | |
|---|---|---|
Games | 32 | 25 |
Record | 19-13 | 17-4 |
Completion Percentage | 63.5% | 68.7% |
Passing Yards | 7,835 | 5,654 |
Passing Yards Per Game | 244.8 | 226.2 |
Passing Touchdowns | 43 | 44 |
Interceptions | 17 | 15 |
Quarterback Rating | 93.7 | 111.4 |
Pro Bowls | 1 | 1 |
Put it all together, and Stroud’s contract should be in the neighborhood of Purdy’s $53 million per season. Furthermore, the former first-round pick could make more money if he leads the Texans on a deep playoff run in the next couple of years. It means the front office may have to work on their financial gymnastics, but it’s something Texans fans can wonder about in the near future.