C.J. Stroud hasn’t even taken a snap for the Houston Texans, but his ranking compared to the other signal callers across the league has already been determined.
According to Cody Benjamin from CBS Sports, the former Ohio State product is No. 27 in a recent list of quarterback power rankings.
While Stroud boasts a more pro-ready pocket-passing acumen than Anthony Richardson, he’s not necessarily a game-changing threat on the ground, and his rebuilding Texans still have work to do in terms of giving him legit support.
No. 27 isn’t that bad considering Stroud has not even suited up yet. Perhaps he is better than Baker Mayfield, Mac Jones, and Desmond Ridder, all of whom were listed below Stroud.
However, the rankings are suspect with where they have Stroud’s actual peers — his fellow draftees — slotted. The Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson is No. 26. The Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Young is all the way at No. 21. Is the gap between Young and Stroud that wide?
What will help any of the rookie quarterbacks in the eyes of the sports world is something they can’t even control, which is their supporting cast. If the Texans’ offensive line is clearing running lanes, Dameon Pierce and Devin Singletary are churning yards, and defense is dragging down opposing passers to a rookie’s level, then Stroud will appear good enough to receive extra credit. How high could he rise in the rankings if the Texans are at .500 by their bye week?
Such power rankings are necessary due to the excitement wrought from the NFL draft, and the schedule release will only encourage more. Nevertheless the offseason workouts, training camp, and preseason will truly reveal where these rookie quarterbacks are at compared to their peers.
