NFL executives share warnings for Texans about C.J. Stroud

While speaking with reporters at the scouting combine on Tuesday, Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio somewhat defiantly insisted that rumors suggesting the Texans could trade quarterback C.J. Stroud this offseason are "moronic." 

However, Caserio has yet to confirm that he will pick up the fifth-year option for 2027 attached to Stroud's rookie contract or attempt to sign the signal-caller to a lucrative extension. For a piece published on Wednesday, multiple NFL executives spoke with league insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom and sounded alarms about the Texans marrying themselves to Stroud on a long-term basis.

"Verdict is out" on Texans QB C.J. Stroud

"No f-----ing way am I paying him this offseason," one unnamed general manager said about Stroud. "That’s not even an option. I need to see a full season where he looks like the guy he was his rookie year before we even have those conversations. The verdict is out."

Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Kurt Warner are among the noteworthy members of the NFL community who have touched upon how Stroud, the second overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, has regressed from what he was when he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. While Stroud helped the Texans reach the playoffs in each of his first three seasons, he has gone 3-3 as a postseason starter. 

Most recently, he threw five interceptions and lost two of five fumbles across his two playoff appearances this past January. Four of those picks occurred in the first half of Houston's 28-16 divisional-round playoff loss at the New England Patriots on Jan. 18.

"If they bench [Stroud] and put in (backup) Davis Mills at halftime (of the New England game), they win that game," a second general manager said about the Texans. "Stroud was terrible, man. If that was my starting quarterback, I wouldn’t be able to get that out of my mind."

Should history scare Texans away from paying C.J. Stroud?

In the summer of 2022, the Arizona Cardinals signed quarterback Kyler Murray to a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $230.5M with $160M guaranteed. Roughly two years later, the Miami Dolphins locked Tua Tagovailoa down via a four-year, $212.4M contract. 

Both Murray and Tagovailoa are expected to be with different teams when the 2026 season gets underway.

"I think Nick (Caserio) is too smart to go down that road and pay this kid $50M," one longtime personnel executive told La Canfora. 

Time will tell if Caserio will make Stroud play a "prove it" season before beginning noteworthy conversations about a possible extension.