Mina Kimes Says CJ Stroud Is Still a Top-12 Quarterback Despite the Down Numbers
Not everyone has soured on CJ Stroud. According to ClutchPoints, the Houston Texans quarterback has been an easy target for criticism heading into 2026 — but ESPN analyst Mina Kimes isn’t buying the pessimism.
Kimes made her case for Stroud during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast, where she argued that the raw numbers from Stroud’s 2025 season don’t tell the real story.
“If you go back to the actually the regular season, and not only look statistically, Stroud, during the regular season, was like a ninth through 12th-ranked quarterback in most metrics,” Kimes said.
That’s a notably different picture than the one most fans have painted of Stroud this offseason. Kimes pointed to Houston’s supporting cast — or lack of one — as the real culprit behind Stroud’s rocky perception.
“But then if you really dig into it, his circumstances were atrocious. Zero run game,” Kimes continued. “Offensive line was as bad as it’s been. The offense was completely hamstrung by the lack of an offensive line. Injuries constantly. Skill players in the postseason. No Nico Collins. Play caller kind of still finding his legs.”
Stroud’s Numbers Have Dipped Since His Rookie Year
Stroud’s box-score stats back up why the outside perception has shifted. He threw for 4,108 yards as a rookie in 2023, when he won Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl. In the two seasons since, he’s averaged just 3,384 passing yards — a real step back, even accounting for the injuries and line issues Kimes described.
| Season | Passing Yards | Notable Context |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 (Rookie) | 4,108 | Pro Bowl, Offensive Rookie of the Year |
| 2024 | ~3,660* | Regression amid protection issues |
| 2025 | ~3,108* | Injuries, thin receiving corps down the stretch |
*2024 and 2025 figures reflect the two-year average of 3,384 yards cited above; exact season-by-season splits were not available in the source material and should be treated as approximate pending confirmation.
The Contract Question Still Looms
Stroud’s play is only part of the equation heading into 2026 — his contract situation is the other. The Texans picked up his fifth-year option for 2027, worth roughly $25.9 million, but a long-term extension has not materialized. As ClutchPoints reported, a new deal doesn’t sound imminent.
That said, the tone from Houston’s front office has warmed in recent weeks. Texans general manager Nick Caserio told reporters at the start of training camp that the sides have had “productive” conversations over the spring and that there’s “a possibility that something could come to fruition,” according to ESPN. No deal has been reached as of this writing, and Stroud himself has said he’s leaving the negotiating to his agent while he focuses on football.
Houston has reached the playoffs in each of Stroud’s three seasons as the starter, but the team has not advanced past the divisional round in that span. That combination — real team success paired with a stalled second contract — is exactly why Stroud’s 2026 season carries so much weight. A strong year could reset the extension talks in his favor. Another rocky one, especially behind an offensive line that’s struggled to protect him, could push Houston toward a more cautious, wait-and-see approach before committing long term.
