Time on Texans, C.J. Stroud's side in QB market, no deal imminent

The tenor of negotiations between the Texans and star quarterback C.J. Stroud has been extremely professional and amicable.

The value of the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has been recognized in both public commentary and privately in active contract discussions.

And Stroud, if a potential deal was to be struck now before the start of the regular season, would likely land in the exclusive $50 million annual average per year fraternity of quarterbacks.

And while a pending deadline looms, the start of the regular season against the Buffalo Bills, this isn't a tense situation at all.

No deal is imminent, per league sources, while the two sides, the Texans front office and David Mulugheta, Stroud's agent, continue to talk. While a blockbuster contract extension is regarded still as a possibility, a deal is also considered unlikely at this time, per sources.

Time is on the side of the Texans and the former Pro Bowl passer and Ohio State consensus All-American. The expectation is that a deal won't happen at this time, but, should Stroud perform as expected this season, then a financial compromise is likely to be brokered after this season.

The Texans can simply put contract talks on the shelf until the 2027 offseason. Stroud is secured through next season on a $25.9 million fifth-year club option.

“As it pertains to C.J., similar to what I said in training camp, we've had productive discussions. I would say the reality is, we will either get it figured out before the season starts or if we don't, it's something we will address in the offseason," Texans general manager Nick Caserio said. "Whenever it happens, it happens.”

Why not do the deal now?

The quarterback market is expected to rise astronomically next offseason, as will the NFL salary cap.

A contract now versus a contract next year, assuming Stroud plays the way he and the Texans hope he does in his second year in the Nick Caley system with an upgraded running game led by David Montgomery and Woody Marks to complement the passing game, could mean tens of millions of dollars less for the California native if he signed early.

The highest paid quarterbacks in the league, based on annual compensation, are the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes ($64 million), the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott ($60 million), the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow ($55 million), the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen ($55 million), the Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love ($55 million), the Jacksonville Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence ($55 million), the Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford ($55 million), the Detroit Lions' Jared Goff ($53 million) and the Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert ($52.5 million).

Quarterbacks could make as much as $70 million annually soon. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is due for a new upgraded deal. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will be expensive, too.

Stroud arguably should be in the $52 to $55 million valuation range, despite a rocky performance in the playoffs that included a career-high four interceptions in an AFC divisional round playoff loss to the New England Patriots in January when he played without injured wide receiver Nico Collins and tight end Dalton Schultz, his key downfield targets, was under heavy duress from a strong pass rush and made poor decisions with the football at snowy Gillette Stadium.

It was a rough day, arguably the worst performance of Stroud's NFL career. Nonetheless, the Texans and Stroud are encouraged by how he's handled that setback. He's had a diligent offseason and training camp.

And Stroud could earn much more money by betting on himself and not doing a market-value deal now. That's because the market for quarterbacks is about to change.

Caserio has completed deals during the season previously, including Blake Cashman and Tremon Smith.

Some players don't prefer to negotiate once the season begins.

“Every situation's going to be different," Caserio said. "We've done some deals during the season. I would say, once players get into the season, sometimes they want to focus on football and don't want to worry about dealing with the contract. Maybe it's not as clean as some others. We've done it both ways.

"We've done deals before training camp, we've done deals during training camp, during the season. We'll see how this goes. It's just my sense. I could be wrong. I'm wrong a lot. We’ll kind of see how it goes, kind of keep working through it.”

Noticeably lighter after an offseason dedicated to fitness and diet, throwing sessions and hours collaborating with offensive coordinator Nick Caley and new quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski, the Texans quarterback is looking to rebound from the postseason.

The Texans have noticed how Stroud has been locked in.

He has displayed strong command of the offense and has been accurate, cutting down on his interceptions. His lone preseason series against the Las Vegas Raiders was a touchdown drive. He made sound decisions.

"Overall, I think we made a lot of progress," Caserio said. "We're a lot further along than we were last year. Everybody's has got more comfort in the system, more experience. I said this at different points in training camp, I think C.J.'s leadership, his accountability, his communication, all those things have been as good as they've been since he's been here. In the end it's the communication between the players, communication between him and the offensive line, the communication between him and the skill players.

"‘Hey, on this route here is what I'm looking for, what are you seeing.’ Those are the things we've done a really good job on. You'll see that manifest itself in practice. Overall, the group's worked really hard, made a lot of progress. Hopefully that translates into good production once we hit the field on Sundays.”

As much praise as has been heaped on Stroud from Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, Cal McNair and Hannah McNair and teammates, the team wasn't initially planning to engage with Stroud in long-term contract negotiations this year. However, the Texans have changed course.

The Texans have rewarded several of his teammates with new market-setting deals, including All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. becoming the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a three-year, $150 million extension and All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. a year ago with a three-year, $90 million extension. However, Stroud’s long-term future with the Texans remains unresolved.

Ideally, he would like to remain in Houston.

Although Stroud has emphasized he believes he has earned a new deal, he isn’t making waves.

“I think everything has been great, I'm focused on ball," Stroud said. "I’m trying to hold my end of the bargain down on just the football side and do what I can and what I should be doing as the quarterback of this team. I'm letting them handle it and seems like everything is going great.

“I think pressure is part of my job. That's just something I think is part of the gig and something that I'm not naive to, but I've learned you have to keep the main thing the main thing. You have to just focus on one day at a time, one play and the football is what's gotten me to even have the conversation, to be able to get a second contract. I have to focus on football.”

Compartmentalizing football and the financial aspect of the game is something that Stroud feels well-equipped to handle.

There's a time for play and a time for pay. He's determined to separate the two entities.

“I think that's exactly right," Stroud said. "What I've done is what I've done on the field and what I will do, we'll see. I think I've had some success and I think I'll continue to have success as a quarterback in this league. I'm excited for the future and to pass all the contracts stuff, I love playing football.”

Would Stroud want to table talks until next year if contract discussions don't lead to a finalized deal before the opening game against the Bills?

It's a fluid process.

“Not really, I'm leaving that to David," Stroud said. "I don't really have that answer for you.”

Sporting a shorter haircut that he had during his high school days in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Stroud is also showing a transformed physique. Through dedication to his training regimen and a stricter, healthy diet emphasizing lean protein and vegetables and cutting out sugar and heavy carbs, Stroud is noticeably leaner and appears more mobile.

Running back Woody Marks said that Stroud is running faster times in the Texans’ conditioning program and might be in line for an increased running role this season.

In the wake of five interceptions and five lost fumbles in two postseason games, Stroud has used the setback as motivational fuel.

“I feel great, I think I've taken steps in the offseason of what it looks like," Stroud said. "If you're going to be in one place, multiple places whatever it is, you have to get the work done. I think I've been able to do that. I've grown as a man; I'm growing in my faith. I'm growing in my football ability. I think I'm taking strides just as a person.”

From the standpoint of Ryans, the contractual and professional limbo for Stroud isn't unique.

As a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year who ultimately signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency, Ryans is accustomed to the business of football.

There's a bottom line: Money is an earned commodity.

“When it comes to contracts, I really don't get into a lot of deep discussions with guys when it comes to the contract situation because I truly believe you get the contract by what you do on the field," Ryans said. "It doesn't matter about what you say, what I say, it's about how you perform on the field. If you're worthy of getting a contract and you deserve it, it'll happen for you.

"But if you're worried about it, worrying is not going to change anything, right? It's about the actions you put in and it's about your body of work and experience of what you've shown. It's not about just one moment when you get into contract negotiations. It's about the entirety of your work.”

Cal McNair previously said that he’ll leave contract talks to Caserio and wants to keep those communications behind the scenes.

“We’re fully committed to C.J.,” McNair said. “We exercised his fifth-year option, and so we’ll see how it all works out.”

The Texans like what they’re seeing from Stroud overall.

“I think I've been consistent," Stroud said. "I feel like when I was coming off my rookie year, it was my first offseason, so I really didn't know what to do. My second one you're trying to tailor it to exactly what that looks like and then this last one is like, ‘Okay I have an idea.’ I think like with anything in life, it just takes time. I think I was consistent the whole time and just focused on me and getting better in my faith, my family and then with football.

"There were little things in there but that was mostly the big things. There are a bunch of things that I worked on. Pocket movement, a bunch of different things like that.”

The collaboration between Stroud and Caley is pivotal to the outlook of the Texans' offense.

It marked another system for Stroud to absorb after the Texans fired offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and replaced him with Caley, a former Patriots and Los Angeles Rams assistant

Stroud stayed out of the spotlight this offseason. That was intentional. He didn’t do podcasts, as he had in the past after his ultra-successful rookie year.

He didn’t travel quite as much. He stayed focused on his work and spending time with his family and a tight inner circle. He was working out at the Texans’ training facility by early March.

“Just being me,” Stroud said. “I didn’t really switch anything crazy. I just kind of got back home, got to work, and just stayed around my tribe and my village. I just focused on my family, my friends, and just getting myself away from football for a while and picked it back up and started to work hard.

“I think every year, every offseason, I kind of attack it better. Just because when you’re young, you really don’t know better. You don’t really get an offseason in college, so you get to the NFL you have to learn every year what’s for you.”

And the Texans, while Stroud remained focused on the task at hand, worked diligently to upgrade the supporting cast around him.

The Texans were missing a legitimate running game last season. So, they traded for a powerful running back in Montgomery and signed him to a two-year, $16.5 million extension. The arrival of Montgomery should allow the Texans to build a punishing run game and become a better red-zone and play-action offense.

“He's a great guy," Stroud said. "He’s somebody who's played a lot of meaningful ball. He wants to do everything that we ask him to do. I got to spend a lot of time with him this offseason and he’s a funny dude, great guy, a great locker room guy. I’m excited to get rolling with him.”

They retained right guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million contract and former Pro Bowl swing tackle Trent Brown with a one-year, $7 million deal. They drafted offensive guard-center Keylan ‘Big Red’ Rutledge in the first round out of Georgia Tech.

“Yeah, I'm excited," Stroud said. "I think there's a lot of experience up there. I think it's something that… I'm comfortable and I'm happy with the moves we made. I'm excited to get some guys up there who want to do everything and want to be running the football, pass protection and everything.

“I’m excited to have the new guys. I’m grateful that we’re beefing up the offensive line. We’ve got some guys in here who’ve played a lot of meaningful ball and they want to compete and they want to help me and they want to help this offense. They want to help the Texans. So, I’m very excited to have them and I think we’re trending up, we’re getting better and we’re attacking a lot of the things that we need to."

Stroud definitely appreciates the reinforcements, and the financial commitment to the offense.

“I think we’ve taken a huge step from where we were last year to where we are now,” Stroud said. “Even in practice, we’re competing. We’ve got guys that want to play ball, want to do the right things, who have been here. I think the culture is starting to pick up on offense and we’re starting to get it together.”

And the Texans have set their ambitions on a Super Bowl after losing in the AFC divisional round each of the past three seasons under the leadership of Ryans and the tenure of Stroud. The Texans are determined to reverse their disappointing playoff outcomes.

“You just grow and evolve,” Stroud said. “I learn a lot that I can’t give you like specifics, but I would prefer to keep those things to myself. I just grow as a man, grow as a man of God, grow as a teammate, as a leader, as a son, as a brother.

“Every single aspect of my life I try to learn and grow and never try to think that I’ve arrived or that I’ve just failed enough to where I can’t get back up. So, it’s just things I try to get better at.”

Collins is seeing encouraging signs from Stroud. He sees a big season unfolding.

For his career, the former second overall pick, consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State has completed 63.8 percent of his throws for 10,876 yards, 62 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

“Different guy, different dude, man on a mission,” Collins said. “Man, he’s ready to hunt.”

When Stroud struggled mightily against the Patriots, criticism rained down on him. Social media was a particularly tough environment as Stroud was the subject of mean-spirited jokes and harsh questions about his future. The interceptions and turnovers in the playoffs were uncharacteristic of how he has normally played.

“I think he's handled it well," Caserio said. "I think human nature is people are going to form opinions good or bad of you. That's just the nature of the world in which we live. How you choose to handle that, we all handle it differently individually. C.J. is a good kid. He cares a lot about playing good football. He cares a lot about this team and this organization. However he chooses to handle it, I'm sure he has a good team around him that's counseled him about how to handle things.

"Our job as a coach, general manager, organization, is to support our players. We're always going to support our players. We're going to be there for whatever they need. Everybody's got an opinion this day and age, right, wrong or indifferent. I love having C.J. here. I’m glad he's our quarterback. We're going to support him like we're going to support our other players and do whatever we can to help them, make them the best version of themselves.”

Now, it's up to Stroud to change the offense. The narrative, well, that won't change in all likelihood unless Stroud is able to lead the Texans to a deep playoff run, if not a Super Bowl.

And he feels good about the outlook of the squad and the talent they've assembled around him.

“Playmakers and guys who can take care of the ball, have explosive plays and help in pass protection," Stroud said. "I think we have the guys to do it. I think we brought in some guys who want to win and who have experience in the playoff of playing in big games. I think they're going to come in and help and I think we have a better roster than we even did last year. I'm excited to get going with these guys.”

NOTE: The Texans signed defensive tackle Junior Tafuna to the practice squad. He was on their practice squad last year. They also signed defensive end Chris Braswell and center Ka'ena De Crambra to the practice squad along with tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden and wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL insider for KPRC 2 and Sports Talk 790. His YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AaronWilsonSport