The Houston Texans have an interesting situation on their hands with quarterback C.J. Stroud . Now headed into his fourth season as Houston's starting quarterback, Stroud is currently unsigned through the 2027 season after the Texans accepted his $25.9 million fifth-year option. He's cemented in for the next two years, but beyond that, things remain unclear. On the surface, the Texans' top decision-makers have remained vocally committed to their quarterback throughout this entire offseason, but have yet to give any hints as to what lies ahead for his next deal, or when those negotiations may occur. However, based on the way Stroud ended last season, there's a real chance his contract situation could go in a variety of different directions based on how this next season goes for both he and the Texans–– some outcomes looking a bit more ideal than others. Let's sort through four different paths the Texans could take with their franchise quarterback and his upcoming contract negotiations: 1.…