Being the #2 overall pick in the NFL draft comes with massive expectations, expectations that are only amplified when you’re the guy under center calling the shots.
C.J. Stroud came in bearing the immense weight of that franchise savior label on his shoulders, and he made it look light as a feather on his way to one of the best passing seasons by a rookie in NFL history.
Now that the 2024 NFL season has come to a close, let’s look back at C.J. Stroud’s best moments with the Texans, most eye-popping stats, and his all-time great playoff performance.
If you’re interested in betting on Stroud and the Texans to take home the Super Bowl next season, various betting platforms like Tipico Sportsbook already have early Super Bowl odds, with Houston currently listed at +2000.
Elite Ball Security
If there’s one thing that rookie QBs seem to universally struggle with, it’s taking care of the football. But surprisingly, that was far from the case for Stroud. Not only did the former Ohio State standout set the record for the most passing attempts without an interception to start a career (186), but he led the entire league in TD-to-interception ratio, hitting his target in the endzone 4.6 times for every pass that ended up in the hands of the defense. His ball security was a big reason the Texans had the fewest turnovers in the NFL last season (14) and a top-five turnover differential overall (+!0).
Insane Passing Volume
Immediately earning the trust of Texans Head Coach DeMeco Ryans, Stroud was given tons of opportunities to throw the ball from day one, and it paid off with one of the best seasons of pure passing volume by a rookie QB ever.
Forming a great connection with receivers Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell, Stroud put up six 300+ yard performances over his first 12 games in the NFL, becoming the only rookie to ever lead the league in passing yards that late in the season. Although a two-week injury would leave him short of Andrew Luck’s rookie single-season passing yard record, Stroud still managed to get the single-game rookie record, putting up a whopping 470 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a week 9 win.
Playoff Heroics
Forget about just rookies for a moment, because C.J. Stroud’s surgical display against the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card Round, was one of the greatest passing performances in playoff history by anyone in any NFL team. The #2 overall pick needed just 21 attempts to throw for 274 yards and 3 TDs, which was enough for a sterling 157.2 passer rating, tied for the third-highest ever in a playoff game.
Stroud’s first playoff performance showcased the tantalizing potential the young star has. And, with Houston reloading for an even deeper playoff push in 2024-25, C.J. is in the perfect position to put up even better numbers as a sophomore in sports.
