The Houston Texans are winless through the first four games of the season, but ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky doesn't believe their quarterback deserves much of the blame. In fact, Orlovsky believes C.J. Stroud has played well enough to warrant the type of massive contract typically reserved for the NFL's top quarterbacks.
Stroud has no business being 0-4," Orlovsky said Monday on ESPN's "NFL Live." Houston fell to 0-4 following Sunday's 34-30 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but Stroud once again delivered a strong individual performance. The 24-year-old completed 21 of 31 passes for 347 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. It continued what has quietly been an impressive start to the season for Stroud despite Houston's struggles.
Through four games, Stroud has thrown for 1,141 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions while posting a 95.9 passer rating. That production has left Orlovsky looking beyond Houston's record when evaluating its quarterback. "It's a very interesting situation because no contract and you sit there and say traditionally there's no way that you would pay a quarterback, who is 0-4 as the starter, the contract that he's asking for," Orlovsky said.
"But if you just took the play of the quarterback, you would sit there and yes the $50 million to $55 million that you're asking for, yes, it's warranted." That creates an interesting dilemma for Houston. Quarterbacks are often judged by wins and losses more than any other position in football, particularly when conversations surrounding massive contract extensions begin. Stroud's situation, however, provides an example of why wins and losses don't always tell the entire story.
Houston has scored at least 30 points twice this season and lost both games. The Texans opened their season with a 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills before falling 34-30 to Dallas on Sunday. Houston's defense allowed 24 second-half points against the Cowboys, including a 74-yard game-winning drive in the final minutes.
Orlovsky believes the quarterback's performance through four games resembles the version of Stroud that immediately established himself as one of the NFL's most promising young quarterbacks during his rookie season. "The keeper game, the seams game down in the red zone, the broken plays that he's made with his legs to throw the football, the play action stuff, it's as good as it's been since his rookie year," Orlovsky said. That's significant considering what Stroud accomplished during that rookie campaign.
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