Caserio Says the Texans Made C.J. Stroud an Offer — Stroud Bet on Himself, and $60 Million a Year Is the Number to Watch
Houston offered its franchise quarterback a deal in the offseason, general manager Nick Caserio confirms — reported at around $50 million a year. Stroud turned it down, is playing the best football of his career, and is aiming at the tier only Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes occupy.
The Houston Texans did make C.J. Stroud an offer. General manager Nick Caserio confirmed the outline himself, in remarks reported by Texans Wire: the team discussed an extension with its Pro Bowl quarterback in the offseason, put an offer on the table - speculated to be around $50 million in annual salary - and could not get to a final agreement. Stroud decided not to take it: to wait a year, bet on himself, and try to get at least $60 million a year. "Nobody was reluctant on anything," Caserio said. "We had discussions. We made an offer. All right, couldn't quite come to a final resolution or agreement. That happens. It's not the first time, it's not the last time." He added: "Nobody's discouraged. I have a lot of respect for C.J. and [Stroud's agent] David [Mulugheta] and their group. I'm sure at some point that will take care of itself."
The market Stroud is betting on is easy to map. Thirteen NFL quarterbacks currently make at least $50 million a year; only two make at least $60 million - Dallas' Dak Prescott and Kansas City's three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes. Only six quarterbacks who started the season as their team's starter make less than Stroud does now, most of them, like him, still on rookie contracts that are about to get much more expensive.
Seven games into the season, the bet is paying off on the field even as the team around him struggles. Stroud has the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL, the seventh-highest quarterback rating, and 11 touchdown passes against a single interception. He is on pace for 27 touchdown passes, which would be a career high, and his 64.8 percent completion rate would also be the best of his career if it holds. That is the leverage in the next round of talks: a franchise quarterback playing like one, an offer already declined, and a price - $60 million a year - that only two men in the league currently command.
