C.J. Stroud had a rookie season for the ages in the NFL. The Houston Texans have a new face of the franchise because of his heroics in 2023.
Entering 2024, Stroud’s peers view him as one of the league’s top players.
Stroud, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, was listed as the No. 20 overall player in the NFL’s top 100 list that will appear on NFL Network Wednesday evening. He’s now the fourth Texans player to make the list, joining wide receiver Stefon Diggs (No. 56), defensive end Danielle Hunter (No. 68) and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil (No. 71).
“Dude came in just balling,” receiver Nico Collins said. “He came in calm, definitely came in collective. He was ready to make an impact.”
CJ Stroud comes in at number 20 on the NFL100 list
Players like Kirk Cousins, Tyrann Mathieu and Connor Heyward all give their praise in his NFL100 video. pic.twitter.com/X0HnacFdp8
— Jacob (@Stroud4AllPro) July 31, 2024
Stroud, a two-time Heisman finalist at Ohio State, carried that same mentality over to the Texans after being selected No. 2 overall in 2023. After a rocky debut against the Baltimore Ravens, Stroud began to cook, posting six 300-yard passing performances and eight multi-touchdown outings.
“You would have never thought he was a rookie,” Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins said.
“He is not a rookie,” echoed Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl defensive end Cam Heyward.
In the most significant games, Stroud delivered. He led a 76-yard come drive to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with less than a minute remaining in Week 9. After blowing a lead in Week 10 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Stroud drove 55 yards in six players to set a game-winning 38-yard field goal for Matt Ammendola.
NFL Top 100 Rankings (20-11) ⭐️
20) C.J. Stroud
19) Roquan Smith
18) Justin Jefferson
17) Micah Parsons
16) Dak Prescott
15) Jalen Hurts
14) George Kittle
13) CeeDee Lamb
12) Josh Allen
11) Fred Warner(via @NerdingonNFL) pic.twitter.com/1sRxJJG8eH
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) July 31, 2024
“He has a cannon for an arm but can also throw strikes,” said New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis. “His precision pass is with the best of them.”
En route to helping the Texans clinch their first division title in four years, Stroud became the fifth rookie in league history to throw for 4,000-plus yards. He also led the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio and passing yards per game, becoming the third player to accomplish the feat in league history.
The other two? Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and G.O.A.T. Tom Brady.
“He let the fears and the worries of a normal rookie quarterback they go through just go,” Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “It was a couple of throws and a couple of plays that he made where it was like, ‘I don’t feel like I’m playing against a rookie.’ “
"Every quarterback now entering the league is going to be measured up against C.J. Stroud because of how he played last year. … He elevated the bar for rookie quarterbacks."
🔥 @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/ZCW9ddebbS
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 31, 2024
Stroud, who finished with 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes, threw a career-low five interceptions while posting a 100.8 passer rating, more than likely will be the sixth-ranked quarterback in the top 100.
Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts and Buffalo’s Josh Allen came in ahead of him at No. 16, No. 15 and No. 12, respectively.
Baltimore Ravens star and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson should fall in the top 10, as should three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes. It’s clear that even though he’s young, Stroud is already among the best in the game.
“I think the best is still yet to come for him,” Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins said.