The Texans are taking a page from the Steelers’ book on contract negotiations.
The Steelers have long refused to engage in contract negotiations with players during the regular season and Texans General Manager Nick Caserio said that Houston will take the same approach with quarterback C.J. Stroud this year. Caserio said in July and again on Tuesday that the team has had talks with the 2023 first-round pick about a new deal, but that those talks will be put on hold when the Texans face the Bills in Week 1.
“If we don’t get it figured out before the season starts, then it’ll be something we address in the offseason,” Caserio said, via DJ Bien-Amie of ESPN.com.
The Texans have already picked up their option on Stroud’s contract for 2027, so the quarterback will remain under contract regardless of how things play out on the field this year. A strong season would make it harder for the Texans to continue playing the waiting game, but anything resembling Stroud’s postseason performance from last season would lead to a lot of questions about the future of the quarterback position in Houston.