Caserio Says the Texans Made C.J. Stroud an Offer and 'Nobody Was Reluctant' — the Extension Wait Is the Quarterback's Bet on Himself
General manager Nick Caserio says Houston made C.J. Stroud a contract offer - reported at around $50 million a year - and the quarterback chose to wait and bet on himself toward $60 million. 'I'm sure at some point that will take care of itself,' Caserio said.
The Houston Texans decided not to give C.J. Stroud a contract extension in the offseason, and general manager Nick Caserio used the bye week to explain, on the record, how that happened. The Texans made Stroud an offer - speculated to be around $50 million in annual salary, Texans Wire reported - and Stroud decided not to take it, instead waiting a year, betting on himself and trying to get at least $60 million a year.
Caserio was careful to close off any suggestion of a standoff. "Nobody was reluctant on anything. 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 said. "Again, nobody's discouraged. I have a lot of respect for C.J. and [Stroud's agent] David [Mulugheta] and their group. I mean, I'm sure at some point that will take care of itself."
The market Stroud is betting against is a narrow one. There are currently 13 quarterbacks in the NFL making at least $50 million a year, and only two making at least $60 million: Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowler Dak Prescott and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Stroud, meanwhile, is quarterbacking a 2-5 team into its bye and taking the blame in public first: after Sunday's overtime loss to the Giants he said the Texans "got ourselves in this hole," that "I got to be better myself," and that the team would "block out the noise." The bet he placed on himself now runs through the second half of the season - at the Chargers and the Browns first - with the price of the next offer rising or falling with it.
