Texans Veteran Believes C.J. Stroud Will Surprise the League

Veteran tackle Trent Brown expects a bounce-back season from the Texans' young quarterback.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:08pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a football quarterback in motion, with sharp planes of color and form capturing the dynamism and intensity of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a quarterback's dynamic movements on the field hints at the complexities and challenges Stroud faces in his quest for a bounce-back season.Houston Today

Houston Texans veteran offensive tackle Trent Brown believes that quarterback C.J. Stroud will bounce back and surprise the league in the upcoming season. Despite a disappointing end to the 2025 season, Brown expressed confidence in Stroud's ability to improve as a leader and player, citing a recent conversation with the quarterback about his approach for the offseason.

Why it matters

Stroud, the Texans' 2023 second-overall draft pick, is entering a pivotal year that could define his future with the franchise. After an Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign, his stock has dipped following a poor playoff performance. However, the Texans' coaching staff and veteran players remain confident in Stroud's potential, which could be a significant boost as he looks to rebound.

The details

Trent Brown, the Texans' veteran offensive tackle, recently praised Stroud on a podcast, saying he expects the young quarterback to 'get better' and 'surprise a lot of people' in the upcoming season. Brown noted that he and Stroud had a conversation about the previous season and what Stroud could improve on, and believes Stroud's offseason approach will be different this year. The Texans have also made several offseason moves to bolster their offensive line and running game, which could further aid Stroud's development.

  • Stroud is entering his fourth year with the Texans in the 2026 season.
  • Stroud had a disappointing end to the 2025 season, throwing four interceptions in a playoff loss to the New England Patriots.

The players

C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans' starting quarterback, who was the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and won Offensive Rookie of the Year that season, but struggled in the 2025 playoffs.

Trent Brown

A veteran offensive tackle for the Houston Texans who has expressed confidence in Stroud's ability to bounce back in the upcoming season.

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What they’re saying

“I expect C.J. to get better. People be so quick to throw people away that they forget what you've done for them. The build up, you know what I mean? I expect C.J. to get better. I think C.J. is going to come in and be even more of a leader than he's been. I think his approach will be different.”

— Trent Brown, Offensive Tackle, Houston Texans

“Me and C.J. had a discussion probably about a month and a half ago and talked about the season and what he could be better at. I think this offseason is a little different for him and I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. I think people think that he might be down in the dumps, or they might be down in the dumps on him, but I think he's going to surprise a lot of people.”

— Trent Brown, Offensive Tackle, Houston Texans

What’s next

The Texans will be closely monitoring Stroud's progress throughout the offseason and into the 2026 season, as his performance could determine the team's long-term plans at the quarterback position.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointment of the 2025 season, the Texans organization and veteran players remain confident in C.J. Stroud's potential to be their franchise quarterback. If Stroud can bounce back and have a strong 2026 campaign, it will go a long way in solidifying his future in Houston.