A lot of people think they’ve already figured out CJ Stroud. They see the 4,000-yard rookie season, the highlight-reel deep balls to Nico Collins, and that icy "I don’t believe in pressure" persona. They assume he’s just another high-floor Ohio State product who walked into a perfect situation in Houston.
That is wrong. Completely.
If you actually look at the film—not just the box scores—and talk to the people inside NRG Stadium, the story of CJ Stroud is much weirder and more impressive than the "instant superstar" narrative suggests. We’re talking about a guy who was essentially homeless in high school, who failed a cognitive test the entire league obsessed over, and who just finished a 2025 season where he faced more pressure than almost any quarterback in the modern era.
The S2 Test and the "Processing" Myth
Remember the 2023 Draft cycle? It was exhausting. The biggest talking point wasn't Stroud's arm; it was a leaked score from the S2 Cognition test. He reportedly scored an 18%. For context, that’s low. Like, "can he even read a playbook?" low.
Critics jumped on it. They said he was a "see it, throw it" quarterback who couldn't process at game speed.
Then he got to Houston.
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In his first 15 games, he threw for 4,108 yards with only five interceptions. He didn't just play well; he played with a level of surgical precision that made the S2 test look like a middle school pop quiz. Stroud famously told reporters, "I'm not a test taker, I play football." He wasn't kidding. His ability to manipulate safeties with his eyes and find the "void" in zone coverage—stuff usually reserved for guys like Joe Burrow or prime Drew Brees—became his calling card immediately.
Why the 2024 "Slump" Wasn't Actually a Slump
By the time 2024 rolled around, the league had a book on him. Defenses stopped playing "shell" coverage and started blitzing him relentlessly. If you look at the raw stats, his touchdowns dipped from 23 to 20, and his interceptions jumped to 12. People started using the "S" word. Sophomore slump.
But here’s the reality: Houston’s offensive line was a disaster in 2024.
Stroud faced a league-high pressure rate. According to advanced metrics from Houston Stressans, the offensive line was responsible for nearly 85% of those pressures. He wasn't missing throws because he "got worse"; he was running for his life. Despite that, he still dragged a beat-up Texans team to 10 wins and a playoff victory over the Chargers.
He didn't break. He adapted.
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He started using his legs more—picking up 233 rushing yards—not because he wanted to be Lamar Jackson, but because he had to survive. That season proved he wasn't just a "clean pocket" passer. It showed he could win in the mud.
The Gen-Z Leader
There's this old-school idea that a quarterback needs to be a screaming, "rah-rah" drill sergeant. Stroud is the opposite. He’s part of this new wave of "Gen-Z" leaders who prioritize emotional connection over raw authority.
He talks openly about his faith. He talks about his father’s incarceration. He’s vulnerable.
"Time plus understanding," Stroud told Greg Olsen in a 2026 interview. That's his formula for leadership. He spends hours just talking to his receivers about life, not just routes. It sounds kinda soft to the old guard, but look at the results. When the Texans were down 10 points in the fourth quarter against the Raiders late in 2025, nobody panicked. They believe in the person as much as the player.
The 2025 Resurgence
If 2023 was the breakout and 2024 was the survival, 2025 was the coronation. By mid-season, Stroud was posting an EPA (Expected Points Added) per play of 0.315. That was the best in the NFL.
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- He stopped forcing the deep ball when it wasn't there.
- His "sack-to-pressure" ratio improved significantly as he learned when to just throw the ball away.
- He became the winningest playoff quarterback in Texans history before his 25th birthday.
He's currently riding a nine-game winning streak heading into the 2026 postseason. He isn't just "good for a young guy" anymore. He’s the standard.
What's Next for Number Seven?
The "hidden" part of CJ Stroud’s game is his obsession with the "Crock-Pot" approach. He hates "microwave" success. He’s constantly tweaking his footwork and his release point. Even now, with Pro Bowls and playoff wins under his belt, he’s still the guy watching YouTube videos of old quarterbacks to find one tiny edge.
If you’re watching him this postseason, keep an eye on his "clean pocket" versus "pressured" completion percentage. In 2024, the gap was huge. In late 2025, that gap almost disappeared. That is the sign of a quarterback who has truly "solved" the NFL level of difficulty.
Actionable Insights for the Future:
- Watch the Left Guard: Houston’s biggest weakness is still the interior line. If Stroud is getting hit early, the offense stalls. If they hold, he’s untouchable.
- The "Nico" Connection: Stroud and Nico Collins have a telepathic level of chemistry. Watch how often Stroud throws the ball before Collins even breaks his route.
- Red Zone Efficiency: This is the last frontier. Stroud's completion rate drops in the tight red zone. If he cleans that up, he’s the MVP favorite for 2026.
Keep a close eye on the divisional round match-up. Stroud has a chance to join Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson as the only QBs to win a playoff game in each of their first three seasons. He isn't just the future of the Texans; he's the new blueprint for the entire league.