C.J. Stroud is ready for the Houston Texans to give him a monster contract extension this offseason.
Shoot, after three seasons, it would be the logical thing to do with the supposed franchise quarterback. This, especially after the Texans already secured their future with star defensive end Will Anderson, who got a huge extension in mid-April. Unfortunately for Stroud, there doesn’t appear to be any notable momentum on his contract front. Beyond Houston exercising the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, the franchise doesn’t appear super ready to commit several more years beyond that to the talented but inconsistent quarterback.
At least, not right now. After all, if the Texans were really confident in the 24-year-old Stroud, they’d probably already have a deal.
According to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Amie, Stroud apparently isn’t phased by the lack of contract momentum with Houston. In the meantime, the fourth-year signal-caller has been trying to recalibrate himself. Anything to get closer to the highs of his dazzling 2023 rookie season that was followed by two disappointing and, at times, middling campaigns.
What’s one of his strategies? Changing up his diet. To what exactly? No sugar, all water, all lean foods. Uh-huh.
Ah, yes, I’m sure the Texans will be reassured by Stroud’s non-specific nutrition plan that is cutting out, er, the “bad stuff” at the bottom of food pyramids. (Also, shouldn’t he already have been doing that as a professional athlete? Was he eating a lot of sugar before or something?)
More in the clip from ESPN’s DJ Bien-Amie below:
Clip from my appearance on NFL live yesterday talking CJ Stroud. pic.twitter.com/HNaJaHjV91
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) May 6, 2026
If I were to make a guess, I do think the Texans will eventually reward Stroud with generational wealth. Do I think it will come laden with incentives and less guaranteed money than he’ll hope for? Yes. Do I think the greater football internet will kind of, sort of make fun of the Texans for doing so, the way they do with every other inconsistent quarterback? Absolutely. Do I think he’ll prove to be worth it in due time? Actually, yes!
This is the cost of doing business when you might have a franchise passer on your hands who hasn’t quite reached their full potential yet. You’re making a calculated risk rooted in good faith.
In light of that, I sure hope Stroud’s new random diet helps him reach that potential. Something tells me he’ll actually have to do a lot more on the field to earn the Texans’ earnest faith, rather than doing the prerequisite work required to be a consistent star athlete.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: C.J. Stroud has random new diet in effort to secure Texans contract