C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are separated by about $10 million in negotiations over a contract extension, with Stroud seeking $60 million per year and Houston currently offering $50 million. The dispute comes as the quarterback enters a season that could affect whether the team reaches a long-term agreement.
Stroud’s rookie campaign included 4,105 passing yards, 23 touchdown passes and five interceptions. During the following two seasons, he passed for more than 3,000 yards each year but did not exceed 20 touchdown passes in either season, while throwing more interceptions than he did as a rookie.
Houston has exercised Stroud’s fifth-year option, keeping him under contract through the 2027 season. The Texans have said an extension would be pushed to the next offseason if an agreement is not reached before the team’s first game, which is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.
A deal before the opener remains possible, although the two sides do not appear close based on the current negotiations.
The report also points to Stroud’s postseason performance as a factor in the contract talks. It says turnovers contributed to Houston’s playoff losses to Pittsburgh and New England last season, making the quarterback’s performance in 2026 an important part of the evaluation of his requested salary.
