'Idiotic!': ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky furious over Texans C.J. Stroud omission from top 10

USA Today

5 days ago

The city of Houston erupted with anger after another top 10 list didn't feature Houston Texans starting quarterback C.J. Stroud as part of their top 10 rankings.
It's natural for fans to feel frustrated since even with an abysmal offensive line and an incompetent offensive coordinator, Stroud still threw for 20 touchdown passes and led Houston to a second AFC South division title last season. It's not common for commentators to get heated over a ranking their company helped create.
Then again, Dan Orlovsky isn't like more analysts on ESPN.
After Stroud was omitted from ESPN's list of the top 10 NFL quarterbacks, which included the votes from a group of NFL executives, coaches and scouts, Orlovsky defended the second-year quarterback and the trials he was forced to overcome just to lead his team back to the postseason. Meanwhile, several other passers with better resources had worst seasons and still were given the benefit of the doubt.
"C.J. Stroud not being on the list is, I think, silly, dumb, idiotic," Orlovsky said during Monday's edition of ESPN's First Take. "People said after C.J. Stroud's rookie year, 'best rookie season we ever had.' ... Last year, bottom five offensive line, he lost his No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 receivers for significant stretches.
"His offensive coordinator never evolved. Complete disaster around him, and he was somewhat similar, performance wise. So the guy that people were saying like 'he's the next Joe Burrow, top-5 [quarterback], all of a sudden he's out of the top-10? That for me is probably the biggest gripe."
The top four quarterbacks in the NFL are pretty clear at this point, even if the order differs based on personality. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson should be the Mount Rushmore of passers heading into training camp with a real debate beginning at No. 5.
Stroud, who last season set records for the Texans en route to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, appeared at No. 7 entering 2024. While his interception total doubled, he also was playing with Pro Bowl wideout Stefon Diggs for half the season, Pro Bowl target Nico Collins for five games and limited success behind the offensive line that allowed 54 sacks.
Meanwhile, Jayden Daniels, this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year, was listed at No. 5 following his breakout season. Should he struggle next season, will he drop to an "honorable mention," or will voters blame Kliff Kingsbury and the lack of stable receivers as an excuse for his setback play?
And again, Houston's offense wasn't horrendous behind Stroud last season. The Texans dropped six spots in scoring after a woeful finish to the regular season. Stroud's interception count increased from just five in 2023 to 12 in 2024, but his completion percentage (63.9% to 63.2%) rarely differed. He also still finished top 12 in passer rating and QBR without a consistent No. 1 healthy option in the passing game.
The hope is for Houston's offense to explode this fall with the new additions. While Diggs and Tank Dell are out -- at least for the start of the new season -- the Texans used three draft picks on weapons in Iowa State wide receivers Jayden Higgins (No. 34) and Jaylin Noel (No. 82), plus USC running back Woody Marks (No. 127). The Texans also added Christian Kirk from Jacksonville to compete for reps in the slot and Nick Chubb from Cleveland to take pressure off Pro Bowler Joe Mixon.
Stroud might never live up to becoming a quarterback who throws for 40 touchdowns and 4,900 yards, but he still remains a solid game-day improviser and thrower of the football. With fewer turnovers, fewer sacks and a return to healthy play from his personnel, Stroud should return this time next offseason as a clear top-10 quarterback with no debate.