It sure seems Skip Bayless is walking back comments on Texans QB CJ Stroud
STRONG WORDS
07 November 2023
It was just one week ago that we were discussing the Houston Texans disappointing loss to the Carolina Panthers. The team came out flat after coming off a big win over the Saints heading into the off week.
Stroud picked a bad week to have his worst performance of the season, as many pointed to this game to once again proclaim Bryce Young as the best QB in the 2023 draft class.
Skip Bayless was one of many to bring up this narrative to dismiss Stroud and the Texans. Credit to Keyshawn Johnson for sticking to his guns and disagreeing with Skip. Keyshawn made the simple point that he's not going to judge a player's body of work off of one game.
Which makes even more sense in this discussion, as that one game is the only win Bryce Young and the Panthers have all season.
It's interesting how watching Stroud play just one more game can completely change a narrative. While what Stroud did against Tampa Bay is impressive, what's more exciting is the pattern that we're starting to see. It began against the Falcons. Stroud didn't have his best game, but he did give his team the lead with a TD pass to Dalton Schultz with 1:49 remaining in the game.
The Texans defense was unable to hold the lead and lost on a last second field goal. Something similar happened in the Panthers loss. Stroud led a TD drive at the end of the 3rd quarter to put the Texans ahead.
Once again, the Texans defense surrendered a field goal in the 4th quarter and lost the game. To be fair, scoring 13 points against the Panthers is nothing to be excited about, but we are seeing a pattern from Stroud of leading his team on successful TD drives late in games.
Fast-forward to Stroud's unbelievable TD drive with 46 seconds left against the Bucs, and now we're starting to see the big picture. This dude is clutch with the ball in his hands late in games.
It also helps to add more context to the discussion, as Bryce Young was terrible against the Colts on Sunday. He threw 3 interceptions, 2 that were returned for TDs, and his team fell to 1-7 on the season. For the foreseeable future, the Stroud-Young debate is over. Now we're to the point where people are questioning if Stroud is already a Top 10 QB in the NFL, that should receive MVP consideration.
A lot can happen in a week.
But we know from what I mentioned above, this isn't an overnight success. Stroud has been building this narrative for weeks. Not just with late game heroics. But with quality wins over potential playoff teams like the Saints (5-4), and Steelers (5-3). Not to mention a twenty point win over the Jaguars (6-2).
Back to Skip
Editor's note: The CJ Stroud discussion begins at the 1:03 mark in the video above.
Basically, it took one week for Skip to change his tune on Stroud and call him a Top 10 QB. Though Bayless doesn't want to give up on Young becoming a quality QB at some point, he is no longer making a case for Young over Stroud. He argues that CJ is in a better environment than Young, but he can't argue against what he's seeing from the Texans young QB.
Bayless later made an interesting point, saying if Martians came to Earth not knowing anything about football and just going by the eye test, they may view Stroud as a Top 3 QB based on how he's playing.
Now that's bold.
Skip didn't see this type of upside when CJ played at Ohio State, but he clearly sees it now. And Skip is a guy that sticks to his opinions longer than anyone, even when the evidence is undeniable.
He held on to his Tim Tebow take way past anyone else, so it's fascinating to see him back off his Stroud stance so quickly.
Which should make us realize, what Stroud is putting on tape, can't be dismissed. Even for the biggest contrarian in sports media.
Here's what the next era of Astros baseball will look like
Dec 13, 2024, 8:31 pm
The Chicago Cubs acquired All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros on Friday, paying a big price for one of baseball's best hitters.
The Cubs sent third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, one of their top infield prospects, to the Astros for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season.
Be sure to watch the video below as the crew from Stone Cold 'Stros reacts to the trade and lays out what the future holds for the new-look Astros.
Tucker was limited to 78 games this year because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBIs for the AL West champions. He batted .284 with 29 homers, an AL-best 112 RBIs and 30 steals for Houston in 2023.
Tucker, who turns 28 on Jan. 17, joins a crowded situation in Chicago's outfield, but the Cubs are reportedly looking to trade Cody Bellinger, who also can play first base. They also have talked to Seiya Suzuki's agent about the outfielder's no-trade clause.
The Cubs have finished second in the NL Central with an 83-79 record in each of the past two years, and there is increased pressure on president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to get the team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
The Cubs announced later in the day that they had agreed to an $11.5 million, two-year contract with catcher Carson Kelly, a Chicago native. He played for Detroit and Texas this year, batting .238 with nine homers and 37 RBIs in 91 games.
The New York Yankees also were in the mix for Tucker before the trade was completed.
“We certainly had many conversations with the Astros.” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “At the end of the day I’m glad that Mr. Tucker is not in the American League East or the American League at all. But it’s a big get for the Chicago Cubs.”
Paredes is an option for Houston at third base if Alex Bregman departs in free agency. The 25-year-old Paredes hit .238 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs in 153 games this year. He made the AL All-Star team with Tampa Bay and then was traded to Chicago in July.
Paredes, who bats from the right side and is known for his pull power, chuckled as he talked about taking aim at the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park.
“I feel very happy. It's not only a beautiful stadium, but it's a stadium that benefits my hitting,” he said through a translator.
Even with the acquisition of Paredes, who also can play first, Astros general manager Dana Brown did not close the door on a reunion with Bregman.
“Pretty much Alex Bregman's status is still the way it is,” Brown said. “Nothing has changed since the last time I've talked to you guys.”
Wesneski, a Houston native who played college ball for Sam Houston State, will compete for a spot in the Astros’ rotation.
The right-hander, who turned 27 on Dec. 5, went 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA over 21 relief appearances and seven starts this year. He was on the injured list from July 20 to Sept. 20 with a right forearm strain.
“It’s just a dream-come-true kind of thing,” Wesneski said. “I am excited to be an Astro.”
Houston is hoping the addition of Paredes and Wesneski will help the team continue its impressive run as one of baseball's best teams. It has made the playoffs for eight straight years, winning the World Series in 2017 and 2022. It was swept by Detroit in the wild-card round this year.
“Look, make no mistake. We're still going to compete,” Brown said, “and this is probably one of those moves that I think in the future people will see and understand like, yeah, wow, I understand it now, I get it. ... I would say that this is more to strengthen our opportunities down the road without losing any footage in the current year.”
While Paredes and Wesneski could have an immediate impact, Smith also was a key component of the deal.
Smith, 21, was selected by Chicago with the No. 14 pick in this year's draft out of Florida State University. He hit .313 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 32 games over three minor league stops, finishing the year with Double-A Knoxville.
“It's a really good first-round college bat with power, with a chance to hit, and he's pretty athletic as well,” Brown said. “So we're really excited about Cam Smith.”
Tucker was Houston's first-round pick in 2015, taken No. 5 overall. He made his big league debut with the Astros in 2018.
Tucker had a breakout performance three years after his debut, hitting a career-best .294 with 30 homers and 92 RBIs in 140 games in 2021. He won a Gold Glove the following year.
The Tampa, Florida, native is a .274 hitter with 125 homers, 417 RBIs and an .869 OPS in 633 career games — all with Houston. He also has appeared in 64 postseason games, batting .229 with eight homers and 28 RBIs.
Kelly gets $5 million in each of the next two seasons, and his deal with Chicago includes a $7.5 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1.5 million buyout. He can earn $500,000 in performance bonuses during each of the three seasons; $250,000 each for 81 and 91 games started.
The Cubs were in need of more depth behind the plate. They also have Miguel Amaya, who played in a career-high 117 games this year, and Matt Thaiss, who was acquired in a trade with the Angels on Nov. 20.
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