This time last year, the love affair with Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud was still in its honeymoon phase.
The former second overall pick had just earned Rookie of the Year honors after throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading many to believe he could be a potential MVP candidate behind yearly favorites Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
While it was far from a sophomore slump, the ensuing season saw Stroud struggle behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines, suffering the third-most sacks on his way to throwing 12 interceptions.
Injuries to key receivers, Nico Collins and Stefon Diggs, hardly helped, and as so often is the case in the NFL, Stroud’s overall perception in the league and the media has suffered slightly as a result.
In a recent set of quarterback power rankings published by CBS Sports, writer Cody Benjamin had the following to say about Stroud after ranking him No. 13 behind the likes of Brock Purdy and Baker Mayfield.
“Almost all the magic of his 2023 debut faded behind a bad front and banged-up offense in Year 2. He never hangs his head as a leader, though. We're betting the passing authority will soon return.”
After adding Iowa State wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the second and third rounds, and also strengthening the offensive line through the draft, a bounce back year for Stroud feels imminent.
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