C.J. Stroud has made a remarkable impact in his early NFL career, being named the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year. He led the Houston Texans to consecutive playoff appearances, although some critics noted a slight regression in his second season. During a recent event with Fanatics, NFL legend Peyton Manning defended Stroud against such criticism, highlighting his playoff success.

Peyton Manning pointed out that he himself didn't win a playoff game until his sixth year, whereas Stroud has already achieved success early in his career, reflecting a promising future for the young quarterback.