Jason La Canfora, one of the biggest names in NFL news, just dropped an exclusive piece about Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, and what NFL insiders are saying about his playoff performance against New England is absolutely wild. This isn’t just some hot take; La Canfora talked to everyone from scouts to executives to general managers, and these are smart, successful people whose job it is to know quarterbacks. Right out of the gate, one of them threw a serious punch. An advance scout who covers the AFC South told La Canfora that regarding Stroud’s playoff performance, “Houston wins that game if Davis Mills starts.” Whoa.
The Playoff Game Nobody Can Forget
That quote from the scout is a total gut punch, isn’t it? It’s easy to wonder if Mills would have won that game, but there are so many factors we’ll never see play out. Would Vrabel’s defense have been different against Mills’ style? Maybe some Patriot defender would’ve had a banner game matching up against Stroud and not Mills. What about the Houston O-Line, how would they respond to a different guy under center? Could the stage have been too big for Mills, just like many felt it was for Stroud? It’s a lot to think through, and it definitely puts Stroud’s performance under a microscope. When an advance scout is dropping bombs like that, you know the league is scrutinizing every single play.
The Quarterback Market’s High Stakes
Here’s another kicker: NFL front office executives are watching Stroud, Baker Mayfield, and Lamar Jackson like hawks because they expect at least one, maybe more, won’t be with their current teams by 2027. Supply never meets demand at the most important position in all of pro sports, so teams are hoping, praying even, to land one of these accomplished passers if they hit the market. It’s tough to argue against the possibility that Stroud could be out of H-Town if this season doesn’t deliver better results than last year. Especially if the fault lands squarely at C.J.’s cleats. But let’s be real, it also shows the value of these guys. If any of them were “trash,” other teams wouldn’t even be looking their way.
Stroud’s Contract Clock Is Ticking
La Canfora dug into Stroud’s specific situation, too. Stroud is three years into his career as a first-round pick, and the Texans have a fifth-year option on him. Beyond that, they could hit him with franchise tags. The big takeaway here? The Texans weren’t making a real push to sign him to a long-term deal this year, especially after what they saw as “dramatic declines” from his rookie season. That’s a huge signpost for Stroud. This season isn’t just about wins and losses on the field; it’s about proving he’s the guy long-term and erasing any doubt about those perceived declines. Every snap, every decision, it’s all under the microscope now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Battle Red Blog.
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