The two sides worked diligently to get a deal done before the start of the regular season but will now pause discussions until after the year. Stroud was reportedly offered a substantial deal earlier in the offseason but turned it down, now forced to “bet on himself” as he plays out the final year of his rookie deal, minus the fifth-year option. Stroud has been unable to rekindle his rookie year magic while playing under two different offensive coordinators, something he’s looking to remedy in his second season under Nick Caley.