With it all nearly said and done, C.J. Stroud, the quarterback the Carolina Panthers could have taken No. 1 overall, got the last laugh. 

In a 23-19 Houston Texans win over the Indianapolis Colts, Stroud razzled and dazzled, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns. 

The performance was salt in the wound for the Panthers, who continue to justify Bryce Young's struggles nearly every week. 

Stroud made commonplace performances that would be career-defining for Young this season. 

Young's best game came against the ailing Green Bay Packers defense in Week 16. Since then, he has, again, played quite poorly. 

Part of the blame is the front office. Young lacked the necessary weapons to be successful instantly. However, the flashes haven't been there, the same way they have been for Stroud, who broke records on his way to turning around a three-win Texans team. 

It seems disorienting to think about, but there was a time when Young beat Stroud in a head-to-head matchup. That was proven to be an aberration. 

Nearly every week, Young was outplayed by Stroud. Some may argue that Stroud had a better team. And that argument has some validity. Where it loses steam comes down to the eye test. Stroud has top-five quarterback talent. His throws are on time and target, and he has the size to hold up at the position. 

For Young to have success, everything else around him will have to be perfect, making building a championship-level Panthers roster difficult. 

Great quarterbacks can cover a multitude of roster sins. With Young, the Panthers will never have the luxury of having some imperfections on the offense. Stroud appears to be the opposite. 

Young may have beaten Stroud in a head-to-head matchup, but with the Texans in the NFL playoffs, the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft got the last laugh.