C.J. Stroud’s Teammate Hypes Texans QB: ‘I Think He’s Gonna Be the Best of All Time’

Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 14, 2024

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Case Keenum has sat in NFL quarterback rooms for 12 seasons, but he’s never seen anything like C.J. Stroud.

“I think he’s gonna be the best of all time,” Keenum said after the Houston Texans’ Divisional Round win over the Cleveland Brown, per Kalyn Kahler of The Athletic. “Like, he truly has the ability to be that way. … I know, it’s very early to say that sort of stuff. But, man, he does some stuff that is just out of this world.”

NFL @NFLStroud strikes again 🚀

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Stroud threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in Saturday’s 45-14 blowout of the Cleveland Browns. The Ohio State product matched the most touchdown passes for a rookie in a playoff game while posting a 157.2 quarterback rating, just narrowly missing out on becoming the fifth quarterback in NFL history to post a perfect 158.3 rating.

The historic performance was par for the course in Stroud’s sensational rookie season. He threw for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns against five interceptions in 2023 and almost certainly would have set the rookie passing yardage record if he did not miss two games.

The Texans are one of the biggest surprises of this season, going from winning just 11 games in their previous three years combined to finishing 10-7 and winning the AFC South. Coach DeMeco Ryans is a strong candidate for Coach of the Year, and Stroud will likely run away with Offensive Rookie of the Year despite a strong showing from Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua.

Houston will face a Herculean effort in the Divisional Round when Stroud tries to upset one of two MVP quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson). While the Texans will be heavy underdogs regardless of where they wind up traveling next week, Stroud’s brilliance alone is enough to give them a fighting shot.