You’d think everyone would be talking about the sophomore slump. That’s the script, right? A young kid lights up the league, wins Offensive Rookie of the Year, and then, inevitably, the league catches up. Defenses get a whole offseason to watch the film, find the tells, and make life miserable. But looking at the Houston Texans quarterbacks 2024 situation, the story wasn't really about a slump. It was about survival.
C.J. Stroud didn't just walk back into NRG Stadium and pick up where he left off. He walked into a buzzsaw of expectations and an offensive line that, honestly, felt like a revolving door at times.
The C.J. Stroud Reality Check
Let’s be real for a second. Stroud's 2024 was a grind. He finished the regular season with 3,041 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. On paper? Solid. In reality? He was the most pressured quarterback in the entire NFL for a huge chunk of the year. We're talking a 39% pressure rate. That is terrifying.
He wasn't just standing in a clean pocket delivering strikes like he was back at Ohio State. He was running for his life.
What’s wild is that he actually got better at managing the chaos. In 2023, he was responsible for about 15.6% of the pressures he faced. In 2024, he cut that down to 12.1%. He was doing his job better, but the guys in front of him—especially on the interior and the right side—were struggling. If you watched the Week 9 disaster against the Jets, you saw him get sacked eight times. Eight. You don't win games when your franchise centerpiece is eating turf that often.
The Numbers That Actually Matter
- Completion Percentage: 64.5%
- Passing Yards: 3,041
- Touchdowns: 19
- Interceptions: 8
- Sacks Taken: 23 (and a whole lot of hits that didn't count as sacks)
The Texans finished 12-5, which is incredible considering the hits Stroud took. They won the AFC South and even smacked the Chargers 32-12 in the Wild Card round. But the season ended where most seasons go to die lately: Arrowhead. A 23-14 loss to the Chiefs in the Divisional Round showed that while Stroud is the guy, the infrastructure around him still needs work.
Davis Mills: The $7 Million Insurance Policy
Most people forget about Davis Mills until they absolutely need him. And in 2024, the Texans decided he was worth a lot of money to keep around. They gave him a one-year, $7 million extension that keeps him in Houston through 2026.
Why? Because DeMeco Ryans isn't stupid.
Ryans knows that if Stroud goes down and you don't have a functional backup, your season is toast. Mills is basically the "break glass in case of emergency" guy who actually knows how to drive the car. He played in bits and pieces, finishing with 915 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’s not going to win an MVP, but he’s a "steady hand."
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Honestly, he might be one of the best backups in the league. He completed 57.2% of his passes this year when he had to step in. It’s not flashy. It’s not Stroud-level magic. But when Stroud had that concussion scare late in the season, Mills stepped up and helped secure some vital divisional wins.
The Rest of the Room: Keenum and the New Kid
Case Keenum is a legend in Houston. Period. But 2024 was a rough one for him personally. He spent most of the year dealing with a foot injury and eventually moved on to the Chicago Bears to mentor Caleb Williams. It felt like the end of an era seeing him in a different jersey, but his impact on Stroud’s development in that 2023-2024 transition can't be overstated.
Then you have Graham Mertz.
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The Texans kept the rookie on the 53-man roster, which raised some eyebrows. Usually, you don't carry three quarterbacks unless you really like the kid's potential or you're scared of injuries. Mertz didn't see much action, but he’s the developmental project. He's the guy learning the "Swarm" culture from the sidelines while Stroud and Mills do the heavy lifting.
What Really Happened with the Houston Texans Quarterbacks 2024
If you just look at the highlights, you see Nico Collins making insane catches and Joe Mixon revitalizing the run game. But the quarterback play was the glue.
The most surprising detail? Stroud’s time to throw. He had the 4th longest average time to throw in the league at 2.80 seconds. In a vacuum, that looks like he's holding the ball too long. But when you look at the PFF data, 84.8% of his pressures were the fault of the offensive line. He wasn't holding the ball because he was indecisive; he was holding it because he was dodging 270-pound defensive ends while waiting for someone to get open.
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The Texans' offensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, had to get creative. They used more quick-game stuff and relied on Dalton Schultz (82 catches!) as a safety valve. It wasn't always pretty. The Week 15 win against the Dolphins was a defensive slugfest where the passing game just did enough to survive.
Why 2024 Sets Up a Massive 2025
The 2024 season proved that C.J. Stroud isn't a fluke. He survived the " sophomore slump" narrative by being tougher than people gave him credit for. The front office knows exactly what the problem is now: protection.
Expect them to go heavy on the O-line in the draft. You can't let your star take 200+ pressures in a season and expect his career to last.
Actionable Insights for Texans Fans
- Watch the Left Guard: That was the biggest hole in pass protection this year. If the Texans don't upgrade there, Stroud will keep taking unnecessary hits.
- Appreciate the Depth: Having Davis Mills locked in for $7 million seems like a lot, but in a league where backups are starting 40% of games, it's a steal.
- Stroud’s Growth: Look for him to get even faster with his reads next year. If he can drop that time to throw to 2.5 seconds, he becomes nearly unguardable.
The Houston Texans quarterbacks 2024 roster was a mix of elite talent, veteran stability, and "just get through the game" grit. They finished as a top-8 team in the league. Now, it's all about making sure Stroud doesn't have to be a superhero every single Sunday.