Texans C.J. Stroud a 'Lock' to Start - But 'Easy' Is Wrong Word

The suggestion that C.J. Stroud is a "lock'' to win the starting job in Houston is a valid one; it's becoming clear who QB1 will be in 2023 for the Texans. But "easy''? Nope. That is far from a "lock.''

The Houston Texans were led into battle by Davis Mills each of the last two seasons, choosing the Stanford quarterback as the team's starter for 26 games over that span. But it's an easy prediction to say the Mills era is over.

Despite the 5,782 passing yards and 33 touchdowns he gave to Houston in that span, Mills is predicted to play second fiddle to rookie standout and No. 2 overall pick C.J. Stroud in 2023; the Texans didn't draft Stroud to ride the pine.

As the Chron.com writes, "(we) think C.J. Stroud earns it, he wants to earn it, people want him to earn it, and so far, things do not look too big for him.''

The trajectory is obvious. Stroud is on pace to immediately start in Houston and there is logic in it. After all, if it made sense to throw Mills to the wolves early in his career ... doesn't it make sense to do the same now?

During his two years starting at Ohio State, Stroud amassed 8,123 passing yards and 84 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions, earning Heisman finalist honors. And he's been a standout in his work in the offseason here as well.

The Houston paper writes, "The best competitors and athletes make complicated things look easy.'' That may be true, though we think it's an exaggeration here. This will not be "easy'' for Stroud as he takes over a Texans team that most critics believe is destined to continue being a basement-dweller.

The suggestion that Stroud is a "lock'' to win the starting job in Houston is a valid one; it's becoming clear who QB1 will be in 2023. But "easy''? Nope. That is far from a "lock.''

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