Tag: C.J. Stroud Rookie of the Year

How popular is Texans QB C.J. Stroud? Jersey sales have a say

C.J. Stroud has gained more national praise as the Texans continue to show up on primetime television.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is the top name in the NFL. 

Well, as a passer, he’s usually regarded as one of the 10 best quarterbacks. 

When it comes to jersey sales, he wins the crown. 

The NFL on Tuesday announced the top 10 jersey sales for 2024, entering November as the holiday season. Stroud’s No. 7 Texans jersey tops all other players between April 1 and Oct. 1.

Even with the inconsistent play on the field, Stroud’s status from a nationwide perspective continues to grow. Ask any fans on the AFC South franchise which jersey they’re saving up for and the better question would be which jersey color they will be donning with the No. 7 attached to the back. 

Quarterbacks owned the top five, per usual. Chicago Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Washington Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels all ranked inside the top five. 

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, a favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year before his season-ending leg injury, came in at No. 4. 

Rounding out the top 10 included Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.

Why is Stroud so popular? For starters, his allegiance to California likely carries weight, leading to a majority of fans from Los Angeles saving up to buy his gear. 

There’s also the Ohio State crowd showing support for his college day. Stroud, a two-time Heisman finalist, nearly led the Buckeyes to the national championship twice, including a College Football Playoff appearance in 2022 against Georgia.

Stroud’s also just a likable person who continues to appear on the primetime stage. With the Texans’ matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football this week, it’ll mark the fourth consecutive week Stroud has played in the standalone window this season. 

Houston also will have two standalone games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens next month, bringing the total to seven games. The Texans also remain the favorite to win the division despite losing three of their last four outings.

In September, Stroud landed atop the NFL Players Association’s top 50 player sales list for all officially licensed products sold after being the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023.

In 10 games, Stroud has completed 62.9% of his passes for 2,731 yards and 12 touchdown passes against six interceptions. 

Texans QB C.J. Stroud gets underwhelming EA Madden 25 ranking

Nearly everyone can agree that Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was shafted in his Madden ranking heading into 2024.

C.J. Stroud wasn’t expected to do much in the NFL before the 2023 season. As the No. 2 overall pick out of Ohio State on a franchise that won 11 games in three combined seasons, expectations were markedly low heading into September.

Stroud never got that memo since he put together one of the best seasons in NFL history for a rookie en route to helping Houston secure its first division title in four years. Players even were dazzled by his heroics, ranking him No. 20 in the NFL’s Top 100 list.

Even NFL coaches, executives and scouts voted Stroud the seventh-best quarterback in the league entering the 2024 season despite only having one season under his belt.

The folks over at EA Sports still need to see more from the offensive rookie of the year before placing at the top-tier spot.

EA Madden 25 revealed its ratings for quarterbacks on Friday, with Stroud grading out as an 81 overall. That would place him not just outside the top 10, but nearly outside the top 15.

Stroud, who became the fifth rookie in league history to throw for 4,000 yards in their first season, was sandwiched between Detroit’s Jared Goff (82 overall) and Green Bay’s Jordan Love (81 overall).

Naturally, fans weren’t happy with the results.

It would be one thing to argue that Stroud’s inexperience warrants a lower ranking, but EA Sports listed San Francisco’s Brock Purdy as a top-10 passer. Few can insist that Purdy hasn’t shown promise since taking over in the Bay Area, but he’s also been blessed with arguably the league’s top defense and a cast of All-Pro weapons.

Entering Year 2, Stroud has one of those thanks to the additions of Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and former All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs, but remember that he made history with eight different offensive line combinations and a lackluster run game.

On top of that, the Texans’ defense was hit-or-miss most of the season, especially in the secondary. Twice last season, Stroud led comeback drives to secure victories and plant Houston at the top of the AFC South rankings.

Without Stroud, the Texans would have remained an underwhelming franchise with a lack of direction at the most essential position for success.

Could the same be said for the 49ers with Purdy, who graded out with an 85 overall ranking?

Could the same be said for Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, who ranked eighth at 86 grade?

How about Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa or Dallas Dak Prescott, who each ranked in the top six with an 88 overall grade or higher?

Stroud, who didn’t play in Thursday’s 21-17 loss against the Chicago Bears in the Hall of Fame game, likely has other things on his mind as the Texans prepare for Week 1.

Fans, however, have ample time to complain about the egregious decision made by those who say, “It’s in the game.”

Texans QB C.J. Stroud made convincing case for NFL Rookie of the Year against the Bucs

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud made a strong case in Week 9 as to why he should be considered for NFL Rookie of the Year.

The NFL Honors aren’t until the week before the Super Bowl in February, but the campaigning for on-field awards is ongoing.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud blazed the campaign trail in Week 9 with a 470-yard, five-touchdown performance in the 39-37 comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

According to Jarrett Bailey from the Touchdown Wire, Stroud made a convincing case as to why the No. 2 overall pick should be considered for NFL Rookie of the Year.

Right now, the brilliant young quarterback is on pace for 4,540 yards, which would be a new rookie record. He is also on pace for 28 touchdown passes- that would be the second most in history for a rookie behind only Justin Herbert’s 31 in 2020. And if he replicates his touchdowns and interceptions in the second half of the season, that would give him a 28-2 ratio which would be the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history for single-season.

While Stroud displayed a coolness and touch in his fourth win, eighth start of the season, coach DeMeco Ryans saw a precision passer throughout the stretch.

“The accuracy — that was the one thing that stood out with C.J.,” Ryans told reporters Monday. “You see the passes that Tank [Dell] caught, but just being able to slow the film down and pause it and see the precision of where those throws were — it’s just unreal to see how precise he was.”

Stroud and the Texans take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10 at Paycor Stadium.

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