How Texans’ ultra-focused C.J. Stroud approaches contract, offseason improvement: ‘I’ve held up my bargain’

HOUSTON – C.J. Stroud kept smiling as he walked onto the Texans’ practice field, greeting backup quarterback Davis Mills with one of his signature handshakes.

Stroud had a similar exchange with coach DeMeco Ryans, who enthusiastically hugged the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Sporting a shorter haircut that he grew up with and drew unwanted attention earlier in the offseason, the Texans’ quarterback also sported a transformed physique. Through dedication to his training regimen and a stricter, healthy diet emphasizing lean protein and vegetables and cutting out sugar and heavy carbs, Stroud is noticeably leaner and appears more mobile.

Running back Woody Marks told KPRC 2 recently that Stroud is running faster times in the Texans’ conditioning program and might be in line for an increased running role this season.

In the wake of a rocky playoff performance with five interceptions and five lost fumbles in two postseason games, including a career-high four interceptions in a loss to the New England Patriots in January, Stroud has used the setback as motivational fuel.

“I think I’m a motivated person, regardless of how we ended or how I did,” Stroud said. “Of course, that definitely helps, but I really learned in my life that you got to learn to let failures go, let successes go just as quick as you would do a win. You got to learn from it and move on, so that’s what I did.”

As much praise as has been heaped on Stroud this offseason from Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, Cal McNair and Hannah McNair and teammates, the team is not planning to engage with Stroud in long-term contract negotiations this year, per league sources. They are expected to try to extend Stroud next offseason depending on how he does this season, per league sources.

The Texans exercised a $25.9 million fifth-year club option to secure Stroud through the 2027 season.

The Texans have rewarded several of his teammates with new market-setting deals, including All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. becoming the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a three-year, $150 million extension and All-Pro corner Derek Stingley Jr. a year ago with a three-year, $90 million extension. However, Stroud’s long-term future with the Texans remains in limbo.

Although Stroud emphasized he believes he has earned a new deal, he isn’t making waves.

“I mean, I let my agent handle it,” said Stroud, who is represented by David Mulugheta of Athletes First. “If it’s time to do it, then it is. My job is football, that’s what I focus on is just getting better. I think I’ve held my bargain up on that end, so whatever happens, happens. I’m excited to be a Texan this year and go from there.”

Ryans previously addressed the contractual limbo for Stroud.

“The contract things, I always tell guys, they take care of themselves, so there’s never a need to panic or do anything different, you just keep improving as a player,” Ryans said. “You keep working on your craft, you keep doing all those things behind the scenes that you know improves your game, the contracts and those things will take care of themselves.”

And Texans principal owner Cal McNair said that he’ll leave contract talks to general manager Nick Caserio and wants to keep those communications behind the scenes.

“We’re fully committed to C.J.,” McNair said. “We exercised his fifth-year option, and so we’ll see how it all works out.”

The Texans like what they’re seeing from Stroud.

After an early interception as Stroud was picked off by nickel Jalen Pitre, the former second overall pick and consensus All-American from Ohio State was nearly flawless. He threw three touchdown passes in a red-zone competition against the Texans’ top-ranked defense. He frequently connected with tight end Dalton Schultz. And he looked confident while doing so, even with Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins held out of the full-team drills on a designated rest day.

“C.J. is doing a great job all offseason,” Ryans said. “It’s probably the first time he’s had a full offseason. He’s been dedicated to the work. He’s done a really great job of, first and foremost, just being here, being accountable, owning the reps, doing a great job of communicating with the staff, with the players.

“He’s doing a great job of just taking more ownership of the offense. I am just excited to see what this season entails for him, because he’s having a really great start to it being here in the offseason.”

When Stroud struggled mightily against the Patriots at a snow-covered Gillette Stadium, criticism rained down on him. Social media was a particularly tough environment as Stroud was the subject of mean-spirited jokes and harsh questions about his future. The interceptions and turnovers in the playoffs were uncharacteristic of how he normally played.

When Stroud decided to cut off his dreadlocks he had worn for his first three NFL seasons, the California native said he heard people were speculating that he was depressed.

That wasn’t the case, though.

“I honestly didn’t see the reactions,” Stroud said. “I was told that people thought I was, like, depressed or that I wasn’t doing okay. But I’ve been thinking about cutting my hair for a long time and I was actually going to do it months prior, but I just didn’t know how my helmet was going to fit, so nothing really too serious.

“I’m kind of used to this haircut, it’s how I grew up, the dreads were kind of a new thing. I hate how everything in my life is so public and people just have narratives, but it’s the life I’ve chosen to live, so it’s all good. But, yeah, I like my haircut. Everybody says I look younger, so I hope that’s true. I try to grow a beard, it’s a little scruffy, but I’m getting it right.”

Stroud has stayed out of the spotlight this offseason. That was intentional. He didn’t do podcasts, as he had in the past after his ultra-successful rookie year.

He didn’t travel quite as much. He stayed focused on his work and spending time with his family and a tight inner circle. He was working out at the Texans’ training facility by early March.

“Just being me,” Stroud said. “I didn’t really switch anything crazy. I just kind of got back home, got to work, and just stayed around my tribe and my village. I just focused on my family, my friends, and just getting myself away from football for a while and picked it back up and started to work hard.

“I think every year, every offseason, I kind of attack it better. Just because when you’re young, you really don’t know better. You don’t really get an offseason in college, so you get to the NFL you have to learn every year what’s for you.”

And the Texans, while Stroud remained focused on the task at hand, worked diligently to upgrade the supporting cast around him.

The Texans were missing a legitimate running game last season. So, they traded for powerful running back David Montgomery and signed him to a two-year, $16.5 million extension. The arrival of Montgomery should allow the Texans to build a punishing run game and become a better red-zone and play-action offense.

They retained right guard Ed Ingram on a three-year, $37.5 million contract and former Pro Bowl swing tackle Trent Brown with a one-year, $7 million deal. They signed left guard Wyatt Teller to a two-year, $23 million deal and right tackle Braden Smith to a two-year, $25 million contract during free agency. They drafted offensive guard-center Keylan ‘Big Red’ Rutledge in the first round out of Georgia Tech.

“I’m excited to have the new guys,” Stroud said. “I’m grateful that we’re beefing up the offensive line. We’ve got some guys in here who’ve played a lot of meaningful ball and they want to compete and they want to help me and they want to help this offense.

“They want to help the Texans. So, I’m very excited to have them and I think we’re trending up, we’re getting better and we’re attacking a lot of the things that we need to. Those guys are doing nothing, but just adding to it.”

They named Jerry Schuplinski as quarterbacks coach, replacing Jerrod Johnson. And they extended tight end Dalton Schultz on a one-year, $12.6 million deal. This week, they signed Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins to an upgraded contract that adds $17 million in raises over the next two years.

Stroud definitely appreciates the reinforcements, and the financial commitment to the offense.

“I think we’ve taken a huge step from where we were last year to where we are now,” Stroud said. “Even in practice, we’re competing. We’ve got guys that want to play ball, want to do the right things, who have been here. I think the culture is starting to pick up on offense and we’re starting to get it together.”

And the Texans have set their ambitions on a Super Bowl after losing in the AFC divisional round each of the past three seasons under the leadership of Ryans and the tenure of Stroud. The Texans are determined to reverse their disappointing playoff outcomes.

“You just grow and evolve,” Stroud said. “I learn a lot that I can’t give you like specifics, but I would prefer to keep those things to myself. I just grow as a man, grow as a man of God, grow as a teammate, as a leader, as a son, as a brother.

“Every single aspect of my life I try to learn and grow and never try to think that I’ve arrived or that I’ve just failed enough to where I can’t get back up. So, it’s just things I try to get better at.”

Collins is seeing encouraging signs from Stroud. He sees a big season unfolding.

For his career, the former second overall pick, consensus All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist from Ohio State has completed 63.8 percent of his throws for 10,876 yards, 62 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

“Different guy, different dude, man on a mission,” Collins told KPRC 2 during his annual youth football camp. “Man, he’s ready to hunt.”

Marks sees a similar approach from Stroud, who has been training with his teammates in Houston throughout the offseason conditioning program.

“Yeah, he’s been there since March 2, since we started the offseason workout, he’s been grinding,” Marks said. “Got a new look. He kind of told me the end of the season that he was going to cut his hair. I wasn’t believing it. He’s been working.

“Just seeing the quarterback, the leader of the team out there working in the offseason, not working somewhere else, putting in work at where he belongs at and that’s in Houston. He’s been doing a tremendous job. He got bigger and stronger. His times when we were running outside, he’s getting faster. I’d say he should be using his legs a lot this year, too.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com