C.J. Stroud Turned Down $50 Million Per Year To Bet On Himself

An NFL quarterback can be one of the most lucrative jobs in all of professional sports. Entering the 2026 season, 12 quarterbacks will make at least $50 million, and two will hit the $60 million mark: Patrick Mahomes ($64 million) and Dak Prescott ($60 million).

Despite his team's best efforts, C.J. Stroud is not among those 12 quarterbacks. The Houston Texans reportedly offered Stroud a deal worth around $50 million per season. But Stroud turned that deal down and is widely expected to enter the 2026 campaign while still on his rookie deal.

For the 2026 season, that rookie deal comes with a salary of about $5.7 million. That's barely one-tenth of what Houston put on the table. Yet by waiting, Stroud believes he could earn even more down the line.

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And he might be right. The market for quarterbacks has continued to grow each year. Stroud technically has two more seasons under contract. He'll make $5.7 million this upcoming season, then there's a $25.3 million team option for 2027.

That gives the Texans a bit of leverage. If Stroud plays well this season, they can decide to offer another deal next summer, or have Stroud continue into the fifth year of his rookie deal the following year.

Stroud doesn't need to sign next summer, either. In fact, he might looking at a fellow AFC quarterback to set the market. Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens is currently on a five-year, $260 million contract that's set to expire after the 2027 season ends. Jackson has already won two MVP awards. Assuming he stays healthy and continues being one of the top quarterbacks in the league, he could get a deal well north of $60 million, perhaps even veering closer to $70 million a season.

Of course, Stroud has not had nearly the success Jackson has had. The Texans quarterback has never won an MVP award, and Houston has only reached the AFC Divisional Round, while the Ravens made it to the AFC Championship Game in 2023 under Jackson.

But in a league where success can be fleeting, Stroud has been a model of consistency since the Texans selected him second in the 2023 draft. He's won over 60% of his games and has 62 touchdowns versus 25 interceptions over his career, a 2.48 TD-to-INT ratio. The Texans have won the AFC South and reached the playoffs each season with Stroud under center.

If he takes a significant step back this upcoming year, turning down $50 million a year will look like a silly move in retrospect. However, if Stroud continues producing like a solid NFL quarterback, or jumps to an even higher level, he'll likely be adding millions more to his bank account in a year or two.