Texans exercised the fifth-year option for QB C.J. Stroud.

08 April 2026

Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, had his fifth-year option picked up by the Texans. He will get $25.904 million in 2027 and is now extension-eligible. The 24-year-old got off to a fast start as a rookie, but stumbled the past two seasons. Last seen on a football field throwing four interceptions in the Divisional Round, Stroud still needs to sustain success beyond putting up fine numbers in the regular season. The Texans don’t have to commit to him long-term just yet, but they make the decision to give Stroud close to $26 million to start in 2027.