Houston Texans ' new boy, CJ Stroud, has caused controversy with his top-five current NFL quarterbacks, leaving out top names such as Lamar Jackson and Trevor Lawrence.
Stroud, 21, was the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, leaving behind a stellar college career at Ohio State. The thrower was second only to Bryce Young, who landed at the Carolina Panthers first overall.
And before even throwing a ball in the NFL, Stroud has caused controversy when ranking his top-five current NFL quarterbacks, leaving out big games. Stroud ranked the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts top, with two-time Super Bowl winner and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes in second, Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow third, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills fourth, and the Chicago Bears' Justin Fields in fifth.
Stroud's top-five ranking leaves out the Baltimore Ravens' franchise quarterback Jackson, 26, who is the NFL's best-paid player currently after penning a five-year contract worth $260million. The Jaguars' Lawrence was also absent. Lawrence totalled four 300-yard passing games and orchestrated three comebacks of 17-plus points, including a comeback from behind 27-0 in the postseason against the Chargers.
However, the fact that Lawrence finds himself behind fellow 2021 draftee Fields may have something to do with the Bears star and Stroud going to the same school. "Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen... I'm just trying to think, Justin Fields," Stroud told the Caps Off Podcast before April's NFL Draft. "I like Lamar too. Fam, it's hard. Bruh, It's a lot of dogs out there, so I respect everybody.
"Lamar a dog, I love Josh Allen's game, Burrow is probably one of my favourite. I think I model my game to Burrow a lot. But yeah, I like all of them, man."
"Lost all credibility with the mention of Fields," one fan pushed back on Twitter. "Trevor Lawrence should be WAY above Fields," another fumed, whilst others criticised how Patrick Mahomes was not given the top spot.
According to reports from Houston Chronicle, Stroud is on track to start week one of the NFL season, with the quarterback ahead of schedule. Texans coaches hope he will be their No1 quarterback when training camp begins in July.
Stroud has already vowed to work hard to get wins on the board. "I know that it’s meant to be,” Stroud said. “I know that with this franchise, it’s going be something that I’m really going to take very, very seriously and I’m going to work my tail off to get some wins.”
