C.J. Stroud surprised even himself.
While the No. 2 overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft had high expectations at the start of his NFL career, establishing himself in MVP discussions and leading the Houston Texans to an AFC South crown and playoff win in Year 1 exceeded even his own envisioned timeline.
"I didn't think it was going to happen that fast," Stroud told Bleacher Report. "I knew that I would get my rhythm and the game would slow down for me at some point, and I was really just trying to be confident.