HOUSTON — Rookie quarterbacks CJ Stroud of the Houston Texans and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts have both agreed to four-year fully guaranteed contracts.
Stroud agreed to a $36 million deal with Houston, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The person commented on condition of anonymity as the deal was not disclosed.
Richardson, the fourth pick overall in the NFL draft, agreed to a $34 million contract.
Stroud, who was drafted second overall, is expected to replace Davis Mills, who has struggled as a Texans starter for the past two seasons. Mills went 5-22-1 in 28 games, including 26 starts, as the Texans were among the worst teams in the NFL.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio said Stroud will come to camp and compete for the starting spot.
The Colts are counting on former Florida star Richardson to provide long-term stability at the sport’s most important position. They picked Richardson behind 2021 Heisman Trophy winners Bryce Young and Stroud, but ahead of Kentucky’s Will Levis.
The 6ft 4, 232lb Richardson posted the fastest 40-yard run (4.43 seconds), as well as best vertical jump (40 1/2 inches) and long jump (10 feet, 9 inches) of the 15 quarterbacks in the NFL Combine.
He was a no-brainer for the Colts, who went 4-12-1 with three different starters last season. The question now is when Richardson will take over. A franchise that has had six different starters in as many seasons will choose between journeymen Gardner Minshew and Richardson during camp and preseason.
The Colts believe Richardson can help them re-emerge as playoff contenders. They also hope he can become the long-term fix the franchise has been striving for since Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement in 2019.
Richardson started just 13 games in college and completed just 53.8% of his passing in 2022.
Stroud was a two-year starter for Ohio State, where he threw for 8,123 yards with 85 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions as the Buckeyes took a 21-4 lead. His 85 touchdowns in two seasons broke a Big Ten record set by Drew Brees.
The 6-3, 218-pound Stroud is the third quarterback Houston picked in the first roundalong with Deshaun Watson, who finished 12th in 2017, and David Carr, the team’s first draft pick, who was the top pick overall in 2002.
The Texans have hired former player DeMeco Ryans as their coach for this season break. Houston has won just 11 games in total over the past three seasons.
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AP Pro Football writer Mark Long contributed to this report.
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