Several players taken in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft have earned their second contracts. The first two players picked that year are still out.
Midway through their fourth seasons, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and Texans quarterback CJ Stroud continue to play under their rookie deals.
As with Stroud, a subpar third season complicated the negotiations. A decision was made to continue his fourth season, without a second deal.
An article on Tuesday from ESPN look closely in their respective preseason player and team positions. The key facts: (1) the Texans offered a contract worth more than $50 million in new money; and (2) Stroud did not ask to be the highest paid quarterback in the league. (Patrick Mahomes is currently leading at $63.093 million.)
Although the Texans fell to 2-5 in 2026, Stroud’s play improved significantly. A new deal — closer to the top of the market — becomes likely after the current season. It remains theoretically possible that the two sides could do something sooner than that.
For the player, there is always a need to transfer the risk of injury to the team. Especially when the player is assumed to be 60 minutes of injury risk, 17 times.
As for Young, we’ve recently heard chatter that the Panthers are “far down the road” toward signing him to a second deal in excess of $50 million per year.
Both are under contract until 2027, with their fifth-year options exercised. For both, the guaranteed salary in 2027 will be $25.904 million. Franchise tag becomes an option for 2028, no new deals.
Most teams prefer to make a final decision before then. Up or out. New contract, or find a new quarterback.
Again, both Young and Stroud are eligible for new contracts at any time. Both teams seem to want to keep them around. The only questions here are when the deals will become one, what the new currency will be worth, and (most importantly) how the payments will be structured — especially on guarantees.