The Houston Texans exercised the fifth-year option on CJ Stroud, largely a procedural that locks up the quarterback for the next two seasons.
General manager Nick Caserio emphasized that the move doesn’t say more about the quarterback than the Texans’ plan to continue building around him.
“I don’t think it really affects his future. He’s our quarterback,” Caserio said Monday via the team’s official transcript. “We’ve said that from the beginning. DeMeco.” [Ryans] and I have said both. I think it was really more of a procedural thing. I don’t want to say it was unnecessary, but it was kind of a case, so we’re glad he’s here. Again, it’s more part of the process. So we’re excited for his offseason. I think he had a good attitude, had a good attitude here. I think he put in a lot of work since, I would say, March and April. I’m so excited to have him here this spring and I’m excited to keep going.”
Taking advantage of Stroud’s contract was a no-brainer because it gives the Texans another year of discount evaluation. Even $25.904 million in 2027 is a bargain when 16 quarterbacks make north of $30 million per season. Had Houston declined the option, it would not only have sent Stroud into a poor season, but would have raised huge questions about how the club feels about the quarterback.
Stroud is coming off a rough season, which culminated in a 4-INT loss in the playoffs at New England that wiped out a championship-level defensive performance. The 24-year-old struggled with pressure behind a porous forward line and too often rushed his decisions in panic. It was the opposite of the level-headed surgeon we saw in his rookie campaign.
Exercising the 5th year option gives the Texans two more years before the franchise tag comes into play. With two years of this arrangement at their disposal, Houston potentially has four years of leverage before having to extend Stroud’s contract or put him on the market.
The question that was left unasked was when/if the club was going to start extension talks. Nowhere in Caserio’s response Monday did he indicate that would happen soon. Sometimes the unspoken deeds can speak the loudest.