C.J. Stroud playing for NFL future with $265 million extension under threat amid playoff collapse

C.J. Stroud is having arguably the worst game of his professional career, in the biggest moment.

The Texans trail the Patriots 21–10 in the divisional round, with the game defined by Stroud’s costly turnovers.

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The third-year quarterback threw four interceptions in the first half, including a pick-six. It’s the kind of performance that could have the franchise questioning not just the second half, but its long-term future.

The ESPN crew discussed it at halftime.

“With 30 minutes left in their season, do you think the Texans are thinking about who is playing quarterback in the second half?” Scott Van Pelt asked Marcus Spears at halftime.

“It’s got to be a conversation between Davis Mills [and Stroud],” Spears replied. “And I get it.

“C.J. Stroud looks rattled right now, and it was a little bit of this in Pittsburgh that had me concerned about him tonight.”

Ryan Clark noted that the coaching staff can’t have that conversation with Stroud just yet.

They first need to determine if he’s the long-term answer beyond next season, and the only way to do that is to see what he can deliver in the second half.

“The second half has legit ramifications on whether or not C.J. Stroud is the quarterback of the Houston Texans going forward,” Clark said.

Despite the historic struggles of their quarterback, the Texans are remarkably still in the game. Their defense forced Drake Maye into three fumbles (though the Patriots recovered two of them) and snagged a late interception on a Hail Mary to end the half.

Houston’s only touchdown came after a fumble recovery gave them a short field, which Stroud converted with a 10-yard strike to Christian Kirk.

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Since that moment, however, the offense has been in a tailspin, with the run game producing only 8 yards in the first two quarters.

Joe Buck even hinted at head coach DeMeco Ryans having to make a quarterback change in the second half.

“Any more problems and DeMeco Ryans might be at least tempted to go with Davis Mills,” Buck suggesed.

Stroud is currently eligible for a contract extension that experts expect to mirror Brock Purdy’s five-year, $265 million deal.

While the Texans will likely pick up his $26.5 million fifth-year option for 2027 to buy more time, Stroud’s market value is still projected between $53 million and $60 million per year.

However, if he can’t turn things around in the second half, that value could take a serious hit.

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