C.J. Stroud Contract Extension Addressed by Texans GM Nick Caserio After Upset Loss to Giants

Despite Sunday's loss to the New York Giants, Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio hasn't changed his mind about quarterback C.J. Stroud's impending contract extension.

Caserio told reporters on Monday that he expects an agreement with Stroud to be reached over the offseason.

"You can ask C.J. what his thoughts are. We had really good discussions. We were close. I don't think anybody is worried about it," Caserio said . "He's playing good football. That's no surprise. We supported him all off-season when he was badmouthed for one bad half of football. The contract will take care of itself."

Last month, Stroud and the Texans agreed to table contract discussions until after the 2026 campaign. The 25-year-old is playing out the season on the final year of his four-year, $36.28 million rookie contract, and Houston already picked up his $25.9 million fully guaranteed fifth-year option for 2027.

While Stroud is expected to receive a major payday thanks to the booming quarterback market, his performance this year hasn't inspired much confidence in his ability to lead the Texans to title contention. While he has solid stats with 1,867 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and one interception, Houston is just 2-5 after entering the season considered to be among the Super Bowl favorites.

Caserio is maintaining his willingness to be patient with Stroud's upcoming extension, but it could be wise to be proactive. Rising star quarterbacks like Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears and Drake Maye become eligible for contract extensions this offseason, which would raise the benchmark even higher in negotiations. Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes currently holds the title of highest-paid quarterback at $64 million per year.

For now, Stroud and the Texans will look to regroup during their bye week before trying to bounce back when they face the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 8.