Texans' C.J. Stroud 'Wasn't Surprised' by Rookie Success: 'I Have Confidence'

C.J. Stroud's sensational rookie season took many by surprise. For him, it was just what he expected.

Stroud's rookie season saw him lead the Houston Texans to the Divisional Round of the playoffs, win the AFC South division and earn himself a Pro Bowl nod. At the Pro Bowl, he made it clear nothing about the standout rookie campaign surprised him.

"No, it wasn't," Stroud said, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com. "I have confidence in myself. I wasn't surprised much."

Stroud threw for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions in 2023, earning a 9-6 record as a starter. While he was expected to be a game-changer after being selected second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, how quickly he rose to stardom was what caught many off guard.

He was the top rookie quarterback in 2023 and the Texans appear to be a team on the rise. He expressed his excitement for how the team can grow next season and the potential for improvement.

"Really excited," Stroud said, per Gordon. "We've got a lot of good pieces coming back, probably add some pieces that we need. Lot of moving parts, but it should be fun."

The AFC South boasts three quarterbacks from the 2023 draft class alongside 2021 No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, so it will surely be a challenge to keep up this past season's electric pace.

However, Stroud and the Texans took a major step in 2023 and appear to be trending in the right direction entering 2024.