C.J. Stroud: Texans QB Good Bet at NFL Rookie of the Year?

Will C.J Stroud be the first Houston Texans player to win NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year?

Quarterback C.J. Stroud is a leading candidate to make history for the Houston Texans franchise as their first-ever NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. David Carr (2002), Deshaun Watson (2017) and Dameon Pierce (2022) have all received down-ballot support for the award but did not win. 

The Texans are taking the field at the Houston Methodist Training Center with an exciting roster and a very healthy attitude after an offseason of changes. First-year head coach DeMeco Ryans is leading the rebuild with marquee rookie additions to the squad in the former Ohio State quarterback Stroud and Alabama edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr.

Both enter training camp with high expectations ... as Houston hopes it has its long-term answer at quarterback in Stroud. At time at training camp, returning starter Davis Mills and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud have split first-team reps during 11-on-11 drills. Ryans has yet to declare a starting quarterback. But ... there does seem to be a plan to have Stroud win the job.

In two seasons at Ohio State, Stroud threw for 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns in both of which rank second in Ohio State program history. Stroud's accuracy is one reason why NFL.com ranked him as the No. 3 candidate for 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year. 

"While most observers are underwhelmed by the Texans’ receiving crew, keep in mind that new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is coming over from San Francisco, where he worked on the Niners' quarterback-friendly passing game," writes NFL.com. "Stroud is a very accurate passer with a quality running game, and adding a healthy John Metchie III and rookie Tank Dell into the mix with Robert Woods, Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz, there is a chance that things click more quickly for Stroud than the other quarterbacks in this class."

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is NFL.com's pick for frontrunner with the best odds to win the prestigious award this season. A running back has not won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year since 2018, when Saquon Barkley won. No. 2 on NFL.com's list this season is another quarterback in Carolina Panther's Bryce Young. 

Houston's last Defensive Rookie of the Year winner was Brian Cushing in 2009. 

The awards come later. But the climb to achieve? It all continues now, with training camp - and with Stroud working to win the starting job.

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