C.J. Stroud Compliments 'Slept on' Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals will be a great defense in 2024, according to Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals got a front row seat to just exactly how good Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is. 

Now officially the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Stroud didn't exactly play a perfect game against the Cardinals midway through the season (thanks to three interceptions), though completing 27-37 attempts for 336 yards and two touchdowns certainly got the job done in Houston's 21-16 win.

When speaking with The Athletic's Nate Tice at Radio Row ahead of Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, Stroud went through some of his best throws of the season and threw some compliments towards Arizona's defense while going over the film.

"They have a great head coach who calls amazing defenses," said Stroud when talking Tice through some of the things Arizona did defensively.

"They're really a slept-on team, they're gonna be a hell of a defense next year. ... Budda [Baker] and 34 [Jalen] Thompson, they're great players."

The one and only @CJ7STROUD joins me for a super edition of Wind The Clock!

Two plays with the newly crowned NFL offensive rookie of the year explaining exactly what he went through to find an answer.

It was awesome. https://t.co/Ck0GTrh9nO

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) February 9, 2024

Arizona's defense wasn't much to write home about, though the building blocks are certainly there for the Cardinals to make some noise in 2024. 

"Whoever’s ever back here in 2024, they understand what’s expected and how we operate," said Jonathan Gannon at his end of season press conference. 

"If they’re back here, myself, Monti and the coaching staff feel really comfortable about their roles—whatever they might be. I always say the price of admission is team and then you, and if they’re back here in 24 they have that.”

Arizona has two first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, one of which belongs to Houston from their prior trade last offseason.