After a disappointing postseason performance that saw the Houston Texans dumped out of the playoffs by the New England Patriots, C.J. Stroud's future has been clarified
15:27 ET, 24 Feb 2026
C.J. Stroud has seen his form steadily deteriorate over the last few seasons
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C.J. Stroud has seen his form steadily deteriorate over the last few seasons(Image: Getty Images)
C.J. Stroud has been linked with a sensational trade following his playoff nightmare — but the Houston Texans insisted the quarterback is going nowhere.
After being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud swiftly established himself as one of the most exciting quarterbacks around. He was an MVP candidate and won a playoff game for the Texans, and while the franchise won 10 games in 2024 and then 12 in 2025, Stroud’s play has dipped significantly.
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In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, Stroud arguably played the worst game of his career against the New England Patriots. He threw four interceptions while giving his elite defense almost no chance to win the game, with some even asking for him to be benched.
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Ultimately, Stroud completed fewer than half of his passing attempts and posted a woeful 28 quarterback rating in the 28-16 loss to the Patriots. His poor performance even sparked stunning rumors that the Texans might trade Stroud, but general manager Nick Caserio insisted such discussions are “moronic.”
“We are not trading the guy,” Caserio told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “He's our quarterback. He's going to be playing quarterback for the Houston Texans in 2026.”
Stroud endured a difficult third season, throwing for 19 touchdowns while completing 64.5 percent of his throws for 3,041 yards and eight interceptions in 14 games. He missed three games after suffering a concussion in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos, but still received an invite to the Pro Bowl, although he turned it down.
The 24-year-old has been steadily dwindling over the last two seasons, having stormed into the league, leading the league in passing yards per game (273.9). He became the fifth rookie to pass for 4,000 yards in a season, and the first Ohio State quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl.
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C.J. Stroud tossed four interceptions in the loss to the Patriots
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Stroud tossed four interceptions in the loss to the Patriots(Image: Getty Images)
Stroud won the 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award and appeared to be the franchise quarterback the Texans craved. He also led the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio (23-to-4).
While the Houston defense has become the backbone of the team in the years since, and the offense has declined, Stroud has still led the AFC South franchise to three straight playoff berths for the first time in franchise history. The quarterback has generally played an effective style that has complemented head coach DeMeco Ryans’ dominant defense, though the Pats game was a poor showing.
Stroud is eligible for a contract extension, but after the playoffs, rumors over his deal cooled. The Texans have reportedly decided to wait and see how he plays in 2026, and Caseiro refused to offer any insight into whether the organization will extend him.
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The pressure is on Stroud to deliver next season, and his future in the league — as well as his bank account — may depend on it. But if he is to return to his best, it will come in Houston.
“He's been a good player and won a lot of football games,” Caserio said. “Quarterback is the hardest position to play in sports. He had some ups and downs — that's natural for a position, but overall, he's had a pretty significant impact on what we are as a program... He's not going anywhere.”