Texans' CJ Stroud & Cam Newton set record straight on who had the better rookie season
BEST OF THE BEST
13 February 2024
Houston Texans phenom CJ Stroud catches up with Cam Newton for a spirited and yet friendly debate over which QB had the better rookie year.
The guys take a deep dive into the stats, the big wins, and also discuss the challenges of making the jump from college to the pros.
Both quarterbacks show a tremendous amount of respect for one another, and there's no denying both players caught the league by surprise in year one.
Stroud certainly had a better season through the air, but Cam's ability to pass and use his legs helped secure him the hardware for Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011.
Stroud also won OROY recording over 4,100 passing yards, but his ability to protect the football stands out when comparing these two players. Newton threw 17 interceptions to Stroud's 5.
At the end of the day, Newton concludes Stroud's year was better because the Texans won games and made the playoffs. Newton's team was 6-10, despite a historic rookie year from Cam.
Be sure to watch the video above for the full discussion!
Warning: Graphic language
How Texans are poised for most unpredictable draft in the Stroud era
Apr 21, 2025, 2:46 pm
The Houston Texans are entering the 2025 NFL Draft with a roster on the rise and a franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud—but what happens next is anything but certain.
Draft experts are calling this year’s class one of the most difficult to project, especially in the back half of the first round, where opinions on prospects vary widely. For the Texans, who hold the No. 25 overall pick, this presents both opportunity and risk. With no glaring positional holes but several areas in need of long-term upgrades, Houston’s approach will provide insight into how the front office views its roster—and, more specifically, how it plans to protect its most valuable asset: Stroud.
Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, second only to Chicago's Caleb Williams. That reality underscores the Texans’ top priority heading into the draft: fortifying the offensive line. How they do that could reveal what they truly think of tackle Blake Fisher and whether Tytus Howard’s future lies at guard or tackle.
A number of linemen are on the Texans’ radar for their first-round pick, including Alabama interior mauler Tyler Booker, versatile North Dakota State tackle Gray Zabel, and Oregon’s athletic pass protector Josh Conerly. Texas standout Kelvin Banks and Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson also bring physicality and pedigree, while Josh Simmons of Ohio State is a long-term project coming off a torn patellar tendon.
Still, wide receiver is the other major position of interest. If Houston opts to go wideout in the first round, names like Arizona’s Tet McMillan, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Missouri’s Luther Burden, and Texas' Matthew Golden offer a blend of polish, upside, and explosiveness.
A best-case scenario? The Texans land an offensive lineman in the first round and then leverage their extra third-round pick to trade up for a sliding receiver like Burden early in the second. That would give Houston immediate trench help and another weapon for Stroud without having to choose between the two priorities.
No matter what direction the Texans go, this year’s draft is set to be the most unpredictable of the Stroud era. And that might be just how Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans like it.
We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as the crew from Texans on Tap discusses all the topics above and much more!
And be sure to watch our live reaction to the Texans' first round pick this Thursday night on our SportsMap Texans YouTube channel!
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