C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr.’s Contract Options Reportedly Exercised by Texans, Salaries Revealed
In the least surprising moves of the Houston Texans’ offseason, the AFC South team ensured quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson Jr. will remain on the roster through at least the 2027 campaign.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Houston picked up the $25.9 million option for Stroud and the $21.5 million option for Anderson.
This was widely expected seeing how Stroud is the team’s franchise quarterback. Ahead of Houston’s first playoff game this past season, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported this was always the plan before a more long-term decision needs to be made.
“After this season, he is extension eligible,” Rapoport reported. “He’s going to get his fifth-year option picked up by the team. Then they will sit down and try to figure out do they do an extension this year or next year?”
Houston general manager Nick Caserio also told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that any trade speculation was “moronic,” while adding “he’s our quarterback. He ain’t going nowhere. We have a lot of confidence in C.J.”
The Texans made Stroud one of the cornerstones of their organization when they selected him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, and he wasted no time establishing himself in the NFL.
Stroud was a Pro Bowler and won Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season while leading Houston to the AFC Divisional Round. He completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions.
While it was an incredible rookie season, it also set the bar quite high for the Ohio State product.
From a statistical standpoint, his next two years were something of a dropoff. He threw for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his second year and then followed that with 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions this past season.
He was limited to 14 games in 2025 because of a concussion, which partially explained his career-low in yardage and passing touchdowns.
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Still, the Texans have never failed to reach the playoffs with Stroud under center. He is also just 24 years old with the ability to make any throw and quickly proved he can be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL during his first season.
Stroud also won a playoff game in each of his first three seasons, although the most recent postseason appearance ended in disappointment when he threw four interceptions in a Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots.
Anderson, meanwhile, is coming off his best season in the NFL. He recorded career-highs in sacks (12), tackles (54) and forced fumbles (three) while also scoring his first NFL touchdown. It also marked the first time in his career that he has played in all 17 regular-season games.
Anderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft, won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season while also earning a Pro Bowl nod. On top of being a Pro Bowler this past season, he was named first team All-Pro for the first time in his career while also finishing runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
While Stroud will look to bounce back from that performance, the future is bright in Houston with Stroud leading a talented group of young playmakers that also includes Anderson and Nico Collins.
And now he will be leading that group through at least the 2027 campaign following this development.
