C.J. Stroud came into the NFL and took the league by storm in year one. The Houston Texans selected the young QB out of Ohio State with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he was an immediate success upon entering the league.
Stroud was able to come in and make an instant impact on the league en route to a playoff appearance that resulted in a victory in his first-ever postseason appearance. Now, he caps off an impressive first season with an AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
C.J. Stroud Wins AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
The Texans finished the season with a record of 10-7 and were winners of the AFC South. This is just a mere year removed from finishing 3-13-1 the season before. A lot of that massive turnaround is because they selected Stroud with their first pick of last year’s draft. That decision among many others completely turned the franchise around.
Congrats to #Texans QB @CJ7STROUD, the 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year 🏆#WeAreTexans | #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/OC9YLaqmMP
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 9, 2024
Stroud finished his first season in the NFL with 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdown passes, and only five interceptions. For a large part of the season, Stroud’s play was too good to ignore and catapulted him into the MVP conversation as well. A late-season injury quieted that conversation down, but his season left little doubt about who was going to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Among the other finalists, Stroud beat out a loaded rookie class that included Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.
Stroud Knows This Season Was Special
Leading up to the award ceremony, Stroud was able to reflect on some of the moments that led to this prestigious award and had a hard time just choosing one that stuck out to him.
“So many highlights throughout the year,” Stroud said. “So many exciting games, close games. I think the one that sticks out … probably the Tampa Bay game sticks out the most. To see us be able to come back and see the plays that we were able to make in that game to win that game — that’s one that really sticks out to me. There’s a lot of moments.”
MORE: Lamar Jackson’s Emotional Message to C.J. Stroud
“I can’t give them all [to you]. I think none [were more] special than the win at the end of the year versus Indianapolis when we were able to clinch our spot into the playoffs. That’s one that I’ll always remember, and it’s a significant moment for our team and where we were at the time, so a very special moment there.”
It’s clear that the future has never been brighter in Houston, and a large part of that is because they hit it out of the park with the selection of Stroud. The sky is the limit, and if Year 1 is an indication of things to come, the rest of the league better be ready for the Houston Texans in 2024.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!