Pro Bowl Games: CJ Stroud Extends His Marvellous Rookie Season With Offseason Magic

CJ Stroud is cementing his claim to the ROY Award, and his rookie season is nothing short of sensational. As the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud entered the league with high expectations. And he didn’t just meet them, but exceeded them. The Texans clinched the AFC South title, securing their place in the playoffs. They did this by beating the mighty Browns.

And now, he’s doing his magic in the offseason as well. With the Pro Bowl games underway, he’s not only done well in the skills game but in flag football as well.

CJ Stroud’s passing game was a feast despite a narrow flag football loss

Three touchdown passes in the Pro Bowl games! In the first half, with him at the helm, the AFC surged ahead, leading 47-30. And who were the recipients of those touchdown throws? Two found their mark with Keenan Allen. While Gemara Chase snagged the third. The excitement built as one wondered how many more Stroud would score in the game.

The pass to the Bengals’ wide receiver was a perfect display of arm strength, and truly fell into the line with many Rookie of the Year’s passes during the season. Sadly, Stroud’s throw to Keenan was defended by Bears’ Jaylon Johnson, creating a “turnover on downs” with 4 seconds remaining in the game.

But this isn’t the first time Stroud showcased his precision. He previously demonstrated his accuracy on Thursday during the passing precision contest at the Pro Bowl Games. He had made a cross-body throw to the left, a challenging checkpoint throw. This was one that Baker Mayfield had missed before him. Stroud, however, nailed both of his attempts at this tricky target.

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In the opening round, Stroud dominated the competition, securing 26 points with flawless throws. This impressive performance speaks volumes about the Texans’ QB. He not only led his team to the AFC Divisional Round but also stood out as the sole rookie in the competition. It’s no wonder he’s emerging as a frontrunner in the race for the ROY Award.

Stroud’s stellar rookie season

Stroud’s rookie campaign was nothing short of spectacular. Imagine leading the entire NFL in passing yards per game. That’s exactly what Stroud did. He averaged an incredible 273.9 yards per game. Also, he made history when he made it to the Divisional Round. No rookie QB had clinched a division title with a minimum of 10 starts since Dak Prescott in 2016.

As the regular season unfolded, Stroud’s arm talent and decision-making were on full display. He racked up a whopping 4,108 passing yards. The 22-year-old athlete notched 23 touchdowns while maintaining an enviable interception rate of just 1.0%. This remarkable ratio made him the youngest player in NFL history to lead the league in TD:INT ratio at such a young age.

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