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CJ Stroud enters the 2026 season with a chip on his shoulder. He turned the ball over several times last postseason, raising question if the Houston Texans should make him the NFL's highest-paid quarterback. Stroud is still under contract through 2027, though, and his fifth year option gives Houston additional time to evaluate him. ESPN's Bill Barnwell named Stroud among the NFL players under the most pressure entering the 2026 season. While he didn't question Stroud's immediate future in Houston, the 2026 season could be a big consideration point in terms of contract expectations. Barnwell stated that the difference between Stroud discovering his rookie-year form and remaining a solid but unspectacular playoffs starter could potentially be worth $100 million or more in guaranteed money. "If the postseason issues linger into the 2027 season and the Texans disappoint, would the Texans be willing to consider what life looks like without Stroud on what could be a franchise-limiting second contract? The difference between those two scenarios might be $100 million or more in guaranteed money," Barnwell wrote in his ESPN column. Stroud had a phenomenal rookie season in 2023. He threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions while leading Houston into the playoffs as Offensive Rookie of the Year. Meanwhile, in the last two years, the Texans quarterback remained productive (3,727 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 2024 and 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2025), but the rookie ceiling was not matched. Adding turnover woes in the last postseason, Stroud's legitimacy as a quarterback with Super Bowl-winning potential has come into question. According to Barnwell, the Texans hasn't managed to improve drastically to get the help Stroud needs. Veteran offensive tackle Braden Smith is on injured reserve and might miss a few weeks with a plantar fascia injury. Jayden Higgins has torn his ACL, leaving Stroud needing to build chemistry with Kayshon Boutte. Former Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery is also entering a completely new-look offensive team. On the other end, a breakout season for Stroud could turn him into a face of the franchise and potentially the highest paid-player in NFL history. MORE: Texans 'prepared' to make risky $50 million C.J. Stroud contract decision Texans asked to lock up CJ Stroud right now The Texans are equally under pressure to lock up CJ Stroud as soon as they can. The waiting game beyond this season could turn bad for the Texans, according to analyst Jason McIntyre. “It may not be popular, but if I'm the Texans, I want to wrap this deal up right now, because you know what happens next summer? Forget about CJ's price going up. These four quarterbacks are eligible for extensions next summer,” McIntyre said on The Herd. “Caleb Williams is gonna get big-time money. Jayden Daniels in Washington. I mean, off his rookie year, he would have gotten the super max or whatever that is. Got hurt last year. He's gonna be fine. He's gonna get paid." The result would be the Texans having to pay an additional sum than they might have to now. As per a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Texans are already willing to place Stroud in the $50 million per annum pay club. However, the quarterback is willing to wait until next year and increase his leverage. More NFL news: - Why Browns are making a massive mistake with Deshaun Watson as QB1 over Shedeur Sanders - Why Falcons are trading for Gervon Dexter from Bears - 49ers TE George Kittle has ‘legitimate’ chance to play Week 1 despite setback speculation - Quinn Ewers trade details: Jaguars boost QB room behind Trevor Lawrence in pre-cut deadline deal with Dolphins