Why Texans QB CJ Stroud is Mina Kimes’ buy-low favorite

People may be undervaluing and overlooking Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, but not NFL analyst Mina Kimes of ESPN.

Talking to Bill Simmons of The Ringer recently, Mina Kimes said she’s still on the Stroud train, even as many have cooled on the former Ohio State Buckeyes star quarterback.

“If you go back to the actually the regular season, and not only look statistically, Stroud, during the regular season, was like a ninth through 12th-ranked quarterback in most metrics,” Kimes said.

She also laid out some of the factors that seemingly negatively impacted how people view Stroud in the 2025 campaign.

“But then if you really dig into it, his circumstances were atrocious. Zero run game,” Kimes continued.

“Offensive line was as bad as it’s been. The offense was completely hamstrung by the lack of an offensive line. Injuries constantly. Skill players in the postseason. No, Nico Collins. Play caller kind of still finding his legs.”

After a Pro Bowl season in his rookie year, Stroud has regressed, at least in terms of the superficial numbers. He passed for 4,108 yards in his first season in the league in 2023, but in the two years since, he’s averaged only 3384.0 passing yards.

In any case, Stroud will be an intriguing quarterback to watch in 2026. He has something to prove, especially since he still does not have a contract extension offer from the Texans, who picked up their fifth-year option on him for 2027 worth $25.9 million.

Houston has reached the NFL playoffs in each of C.J. Stroud’s first three seasons, but it has not advanced past the divisional round during that span.

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