Texans’ C.J. Stroud happy to focus on football instead of draft.
HOUSTON — Around this time last year, C.J. Stroud had just finished the draft process as the No. 2 pick by the Houston Texans.
It’s a process that can be taxing and one that the former Ohio State quarterback is pleased he doesn’t have to endure in Year 2.
“I was meeting every team,” Stroud said, “going through offense after offense, meeting with a new coordinator, meeting with a new head coach next week, then finally got here and everything just ramped up.”
Stroud wasn’t given the starting role either. He had to earn it. He went through camps and the preseason before he got the nod just before the season kicked off.
He would go on to lead the Texans to the AFC South title and the divisional round of the playoffs. The success earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and a trip to the Pro Bowl after a record-breaking season in which he passed for 4,108 yards and led the league in touchdown to interception ratio (23:5).
Stroud is hoping to improve, and he’s hoping a full offseason without the distraction of the draft can help do just that.
“I’m coming to the same offense, and I get to slow down and really get better at what we’re trying to get done this next year,” Stroud said. “So I’m very excited for that.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans is also headed into Year 2, and he is eager to see what kind of jump his franchise quarterback can make.
