Houston Texans player CJ Stroud ranked among ‘decisive quarterbacks’

The Houston Texans were an exhilarating team to watch last season. Led by then-rookie quarterback CJ Stroud and first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans jumped seven wins from their three-win season in 2022.

Stroud’s emergence as a superstar signaled to the franchise that it was time to do everything they could to build a competitive team. They did just that, acquiring a mix of young talent and veterans to give Stroud the tools to win at the highest level.

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As the NFL is in the middle of its offseason — with nothing to do until training camp — rankings and lists are continually being released ahead of the 2024 season. CBS Sports’ Douglas Clawson ranked the top ten “make-or-break” quarterbacks in the NFL.

In the rankings, Stroud represented the Texans as the No. 2-ranked quarterback.

“No one was better than CJ Stroud in the big moments last year,” Clawson wrote. “The Texans converted 6 of 8 tying-or-winning drives with Stroud under center. His numbers in those situations were phenomenal. 77 percent completion, 10.7 yards per attempt and a passer rating of 139.5. The highlight was a rookie-to-rookie game-winning touchdown pass to cap Stroud’s 470-yard, five-touchdown game.”

Clearly, the game-winning drive against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a defining moment for Stroud and the Texans. The outcome was already obvious, but it solidified Stroud as an emerging star.

Heading into the 2024 season, drives and plays like these will be much easier for Stroud and the Texans. In addition to Nico Collins and Tank Dell, Houston added Stefon Diggs to the receiver room. Joe Mixon joins Stroud in the backfield, and the offense will have a handful of weapons that will consistently create space for each other.

Stroud’s ability to make crucial plays will help the Texans string together another double-digit winning season, and he should be able to win at least one playoff game, as he did as a rookie.

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