Will the Houston Texans’ QB CJ Stroud script NFL and franchise history this year? Stephen A Smith and Shannon Sharpe sure seem to think so. Stroud was the second overall pick in the NFL Draft 2023, and very nearly went to the Carolina Panthers. But fate put him in the Texans and it looks like they have finally found the quarterback they had been waiting for.

The Texans will face off against the Arizona Cardinals in the next week, and if past games are anything to go by, they are up for a bloodbath. This year has rightly been called the “Year of Rookie QBs”. The season has set an NFL record by having 10 rookie QBs start in a game. But the name that shines out among all the 10 is that of Stroud.

Stephen A. Smith changes his opinion after the Texans’ last game

Speaking on an episode of First Take, Stephen A. Smith had refused to accept that CJ Stroud could win NFL MVP of the year. Rookie of the Year? Definitely. But MVP? He said that no first-year had won the title since the Cleveland Browns’ Jim Brown won it in 1957. But after his last game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he was forced to change his opinion. “We clearly see a level of greatness from this rookie.”

He also revealed that he didn’t doubt Stroud’s potential, but was just unsure if any sub-0.500 team’s player could win the MVP title. The Texans were 4-4 before the Bengals game, but after defeating Joe Burrow and Co, their score improved to 5-4. There are 8 more games to go before the post-season, but if he continues to play the way he is playing, he is sure to be crowned MVP.

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The First Take crew was also joined by former NFL player Shannon Sharpe, who also voiced his thoughts on Stroud’s performance so far.

Shannon Sharpe places Stroud above Mahomes and Burrow

“He’s played the position better than Burrow better than Patrick Mahomes better than Dak better than Jalen Hurts and he’s a rookie!” Shannon Sharpe said on the show. Is he right? Comparing the stats on their ESPN pages, Patrick Mahomes has a total of 2,442 passing yards so far and Joe Burrow has 2,208. Stroud eclipses them both at 2,626. While Mahomes and Burrow have thrown 8 and 6 interceptions respectively, Stroud has just thrown 2.

The hosts said that if he can lead his team to the playoffs, then that would be a sure-shot sign that he would be crowned NFL MVP. Right now, the Texans are 2nd in the AFC South and it doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch that will emerge the divisional champions, especially after beating the formidable Jacksonville Jaguars twice. In the upcoming week, will they manage to improve their score to 6-4, after beating the Cardinals?

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