Colin Cowherd reveals what finally “sold” him on Texans QB CJ Stroud
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
15 November 2023
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
It's no secret that Colin Cowherd has been very critical of Texans QB CJ Stroud, and the organization's decision to draft him at No. 2 overall.
Cowherd believed the Texans should have waited until next year's draft to take one of the top college QBs. He was of the opinion that Stroud didn't have as much mobility as some other options set to come out in the 2024 NFL Draft.
He even went as far to say the Texans would end up with one of the worst records in the league and would end up drafting another QB the following year. Cowherd also didn't realize the Texans traded their No. 1 pick to Arizona in the Will Anderson deal.
Stroud's player comp pre-draft was Jared Goff with more mobility. Now all of a sudden, that sounds like player any team would want to lead their offense.
So why the change of heart all of a sudden? For Colin, it was the final drive against the Bengals that changed everything for him.
Looking ahead
Colin and his co-host John Middlekauff also discuss how Stroud's success makes Bryce Young look like a bust, and how the draft and a ton of money in free agency can really bolster Houston's roster in 2024.
With Stroud running the Texans offense, players are going to want to come to Houston.
Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.
Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.
The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.
JP3-run bomb. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/En0XXWdlt0
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.
The Framchise is all business.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/J8EGGDk5gl
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.
RBI double for Zach gets us on the board early! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/AilCY27A9d
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.
Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.
The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.
Safe all day. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/OVjcvev7cM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.
Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.
The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.
The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.