After initially receiving backlash for his quarterback rankings, C.J. Stroud is adjusting his stance on Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The Houston Texans quarterback sparked controversy by omitting Allen from his list of the top five quarterbacks in the league. However, he later revised his rankings, replacing Allen with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Stroud’s original rankings came to light in an Instagram teaser for his June 2 appearance on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast. In his initial list, he ranked himself above some established quarterbacks and initially excluded Allen. He later took to social media to amend his list.
C.J. Stroud’s Top Five
During his podcast appearance, Stroud opted for Patrick Mahomes as one of the top quarterbacks in the league, a common choice. He also mentioned Lamar Jackson, a two-time league MVP, and added himself, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, and Hurts to his list. This selection garnered immediate interest, particularly because it excluded both Josh Allen and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Best quarterback in the league you say? pic.twitter.com/7aNETIQw7X
— Dave Myers BIB (@DaveMyersBIB) May 19, 2024
Following some scrutiny, Stroud updated his list on Instagram, maintaining Mahomes, Jackson, and himself in the top three spots but placing Josh Allen at number four. He then shifted Prescott to fifth place, removing Hurts from the list entirely. Stroud acknowledged that Joe Burrow should also be recognized as one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks, despite his absence from the initial ranking, attributing his omission to his injury sidelining him for much of the 2023 season.
This isn’t the first time Josh Allen’s ranking has sparked discussion during this offseason. Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer stirred attention last month at a charity event in Buffalo when he praised Allen as the best quarterback in the league, despite no longer being with the team after signing with the Miami Dolphins. Poyer’s statement attracted notice, particularly given his move to a rival team where he’ll play alongside Tua Tagovailoa.
Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud Will Meet
Following a dynamic debut season that saw him secure a division title with the Texans, Stroud is poised to square off against Allen in the upcoming campaign. The Bills and Texans are set to clash in Week 5 in Houston, a matchup where wide receiver Stefon Diggs will face his former team.
Despite experiencing a decline in performance during the latter part of the 2023 season, the Texans remain confident in Diggs’ ability to contribute to the team’s offense in the upcoming season.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, speaking on SportsCenter via Bleacher Report, there’s a widespread belief in the league that the Texans will boast one of the top three-receiver sets in the NFL, featuring Tank Dell and Nico Collins alongside Diggs. While Diggs may have lost some of his vertical speed during his time in Buffalo, the Texans view him as a crucial asset for his adeptness at running precise routes and excelling in the intermediate passing game, complementing the younger receivers who excel in stretching the field vertically.
