Ohio State Buckeyes football legend C.J. Stroud has led the Houston Texans to a 19-13 record in the regular season over the last two seasons and a 2-2 record in the postseason. For a 2023 NFL draft first-round pick, that's pretty good.
It wouldn't be considered pretty good for a third straight year, though.
Consider Stroud a potential victim of his own expectations after bursting onto the scene hot.
Toro Times's Hayden Victoria believes Stroud's biggest problem, a lack of protection, is something Houston's front office needs to address if it has any designs on giving the third-year phenom a fighting chance beyond the AFC Divisional Round.
"The Texans also need to stay nimble. The waiver wire and trade market could hold valuable depth pieces, and Houston should be ready to strike. Injuries are inevitable -- the depth behind the starters could make or break this season," Victoria wrote.
"In the end, it all circles back to Stroud. If the Texans are serious about a playoff push, the offensive line must shift from a liability to a strength. It’s time to set the tone, get nasty in the trenches, and give the franchise quarterback the protection he deserves."
Stroud gave Buckeye fans a major moral victory by defeating Jim Harbaugh's Los Angeles Chargers in the 2025 postseason.
He's delivered Texans fans hope and made the Carolina Panthers' front office envious after their struggles with Bryce Young, the only player picked ahead of Stroud.
Still, his ascension in the NFL's quarterback hierarchy will be stunted, and his eyes may start to wander around the other 31 franchises if there's not a concerted effort to make his life easier in the Lone Star State.
It's way too early to project Stroud leaving the Texans. Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has shown what patience looks like on a team not giving him enough weapons when you're getting paid hundreds of millions of dollars.
But Stroud can only grin and bear it for so long.