Texans Fans Want A Leap: Here’s Why C.J Stroud Still Deserves Time

Concept by Breaking Ball Media — AI-generated image.

These are the names that come up every time the ‘Is Stroud the guy?’ talk gets loud.

Here’s my point: C.J. Stroud has earned more time than the noise is giving him — because Houston’s real problem at quarterback has never been talent. It’s been stability, protection, and staying with a plan long enough for it to become real.

Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, Justin Herbert, Baker Mayfield, Jordan Love. That’s the trap Texans fans keep falling into — comparing the name instead of the situation. Highest paid, franchise quarterbacks, journeymen. The difference? At this point in his career, Stroud’s already got real January reps — a 3–3 playoff record. And I’ll say it again: three seasons, three playoff appearances for Mr. Stroud.

Early Success Comes With Unrealistic Expectations

Early success doesn’t just raise expectations — it makes people impatient. For some of the Houston faithful, a 3-3 playoff record isn't holding up because they want him gone. Would you take any of those other QB’s I named to take the charge? 2025 was a down year for Stroud statistically, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions through 14 games. Compared to his rookie year, the numbers dipped — but that doesn’t automatically mean he’s the problem.

Houston’s Quarterback Problem Has Never Been Talent — It’s Stability

This isn’t a knock on the guys who came before him — it’s proof of how rare it is for Houston to stay committed at QB long enough to build a real identity.

Keeping CJ at the helm is pivotal because Houston has never had sustained stability at QB. Here’s what the “identity” problem has looked like:

QB	RECORD	PLAYOFF WINS	TOTAL SEASONS PLAYED FOR HOUSTON
DAVID CARR	22-53	0	4
MATT SCHAUB	46-42	0	7
DESHAUN WATSON	24-13	1	4

Stroud is 31-21 with a 3-3 playoff record in his first 3 years. I understand the frustration of Texans fans because winning with one of those guys was new to us. Now that a few division titles and Wild Card wins are in the books, the perception might have wavered a bit. Fans should realize that things take time; it could be worse. Comparing other franchises on how fast they do business and restructure would be irrelevant, and the “Texans should have won by now” narrative should take a back seat. It’s not fair to hold CJ to a standard that has never been attained in Houston, for football. Houston hasn’t seen a football championship since the AFL days in the ’60s.

So when fans say “move on,” the real question is: move on to what — and how many years does that set you back?

The NFL is a business — and it should be treated as one. But Houston’s history shows what happens when you keep hitting reset — find “the next guy,” you just keep starting over. That does not mean CJ Stroud should be thrown to the wolves for a “bad” season. Persistence is key, and I feel like those who want him gone are just speaking in the moment. That’s what fans do — we react in the moment. I just think — not sticking with CJ Stroud is an overreaction. CJ Stroud still deserves time.

The Context That Gets Ignored: Protection and Personnel

The one common denominator people often overlook is the offensive line. The Texans have NEVER had a star-studded O-Line. The offensive line has never been a forefront within the organization. With only 4 Pro Bowl offensive linemen in 20+ years, say everything. The most prolific lineman we had was Laremy Tunsil from 2019 to 2024. Who had 10 false starts in the first 3 games of 2024? Great, but never consistent when it comes to never solidifying an offensive line, now with Tunsil gone. The Texans reduced sacks from 52 in ‘24 to 23 in ‘25. Dropping the pressure rate from 37.9 to 31.3% on pass plays. And when a QB doesn’t feel protected, it’s not just sacks — it’s timing, trust, and how fearless he’s willing to be.

Confidence, Continuity, and What Went Wrong

The confidence of a QB is huge when you lose one of your best friends and players in Tank Dell, and then Joe Mixon in the preseason. Starting 0-3 with everything going on, Stroud getting concussed in week 5 had Davis Mills leading the Texans to a 3-0 record in Stroud’s absence. You could see it on film — the ball didn’t come out with the same conviction. That half-second of hesitation is the difference between a clean drive and a stalled one. It could have been worse, Texans faithful.

Why Patience Still Makes Sense

The Texans are on the rise, not the decline. Patience doesn’t mean pretending he’s perfect — it means fixing what’s around him before you decide the position is broken again. Of course, when you are the QB, you get all the blame. That’s what comes with the territory. Now, what do you do about play-calling and everything around him? That is for the front office to figure out and see what fits the Texans' scheme.

My Question for You

If you’re out on Stroud, what’s the realistic Plan B — draft, trade, or free agency — and how long are you willing to live in the reset?