HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud's contract extension will have to wait. The Houston Texans and their franchise quarterback have tabled negotiations until after the 2026-27 season, per ESPN, after weeks of stalled talks ahead of the team's season opener against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Stroud became eligible for an extension for the first time this offseason after entering the league as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. General manager Nick Caserio said in July the sides had "productive conversations" earlier in the spring, but no deal was reached. The Texans picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal in April, which is set to pay Stroud $25.9 million in 2027. Caserio said earlier this month that negotiations would likely be pushed to next offseason if no resolution was reached before the start of the season.
Stroud threw for a career-low 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season, his third in the league. He missed several games due to a concussion but guided Houston to a 12-5 record and a third straight playoff run, and was on pace to come close to the 4,000-yard mark before the injury. The team has yet to advance past the divisional round under his watch, and he threw four interceptions in the playoff loss to the New England Patriots among seven total turnovers in the postseason.
Houston won just 11 combined games in the three years before Stroud arrived and has returned to contention with him under center. Even without a new deal in place, the Texans are expected to pursue a long-term commitment, while Stroud is betting his play in 2026 will show results worthy of that deal and push the franchise beyond the divisional round.