Texans' C.J. Stroud Wins NFL Fan-Voted Rookie of the Year Award Ahead of NFL Honors

The Houston Texans announced Thursday that quarterback C.J. Stroud was named the NFL's fan-voted Rookie of the Year for 2023.

Stroud earned the distinction ahead of Thursday night's NFL Honors awards show at which the official NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards will be given out.

The 22-year-old Stroud is a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year along with Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and tight end Sam LaPorta, Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.

After getting selected No. 2 overall in the 2023 NFL draft out of Ohio State, Stroud went on to enjoy one of the best rookie seasons ever by a quarterback.

Stroud started 15 games, going 9-6, while completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also rushed for 167 yards and three scores.

In the three seasons before Stroud's arrival, the Texans were among the NFL's worst teams, going 4-12, 4-13 and 3-13-1, but the young gunslinger helped lead a quick turnaround.

Overall, the Texans went 10-7 and won the AFC South for the first time since 2019. They also blew out the Cleveland Browns by a 45-14 score in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

Stroud showed poise beyond his years in that playoff game, going 16-of-21 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The 2023 season was as strong one for offensive rookies who made an impact, as all of the finalists for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award besides Robinson were named to the Pro Bowl.

Stroud is the odds-on favorite to win the honor, but the one finalist with a legitimate chance to beat him out is Nacua.

Despite being a fifth-round pick out of BYU, Nacua instantly established himself as one of the best wideouts in the NFL, exploding for 105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns.

If Stroud is able to hold off Nacua and Co., he will become the first Texans player to win the officially recognized NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, and the first Texans player to win a major Rookie of the Year Award of any kind since linebacker Brian Cushing was name Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009.