Texans, C.J. Stroud table extension talks until after the season

C.J. Stroud's long-term future with the Texans will wait a little longer. Houston and its franchise quarterback made a run at completing a contract extension before the regular season begins, but both sides agreed to wait until after this season to work out a long-term deal, per Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport.

The development keeps one of the biggest quarterback dominoes in the NFL open for another year. Stroud, entering a season in which the league's quarterback market is expected to be reshaped, will now bet on himself rather than lock in a number now. The Texans, meanwhile, buy themselves time and flexibility, though they will face a far more expensive market if Stroud plays to his ceiling and drives up his price over the course of the year. For a Texans offense leaning on a resurgent receiving corps and a healthy Stroud to open 2026, the bet is mutual: Stroud trusts he'll be worth more later, and Houston trusts it can still keep him when the time comes. Both sides walked away from the table satisfied — the resolution just won't come until the offseason.