C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
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C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
The Houston Texans did more to bring their own players back on the first day of free agency than add outside talent, though they did that, too. Still, given where they are with quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ approach stood out in NFL circles.
Stroud is coming off a polarizing third season and is extension-eligible this offseason.
If the Texans are looking for Stroud to prove even more that he is their franchise quarterback, their approach to enriching his supporting cast is questionable.
C.J. Stroud Lands on Unfortunate List Amid Texans’ Decisions
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans reacts during the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the New England Patriots.
The only outside free agents the Texans signed on the first day of free agency were defensive end Dominique Robinson and safety Reed Blankenship. Both players should help the Texans, which helps Stroud.
However, neither helps Stroud directly.
Moreover, the Texans’ biggest decisions in that regard–trading two offensive linemen, potentially overpaying another, and adding an aging running back–face scrutiny.
“For the third consecutive offseason, Texans general manager Nick Caserio entered March knowing he needed to solidify things around his young quarterback,” ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote on March 10. “This year, it’s harder to make sense of what Caserio is doing.
“You have to make the most of your draft capital and have a strong handle on which players can be easily replaced through the draft and free agency if their price gets out of line. Just about everything the Texans have done up front hasn’t worked over the past few years. I’m not sure running back the right side of the line in 2026 will do Stroud any more favors.”
Caserio has voiced his unequivocal support for Stroud in 2026.
The executive has been far less committal beyond that, though, implying on multiple occasions that nothing has been determined about after this coming season.
Stroud landed among Barnwell’s “losers” after Day 1 of free agency, but there is still a lot of offseason left. This is also a process that Stroud and the Texans have been through together before.
C.J. Stroud Facing Familiar Hurdle
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans takes the field before the AFC Divisional Playoffs against the New England Patriots.
Stroud cut down his sack numbers in 2025, posting a career-low sack rate during the regular season, per Pro Football Reference.
The Texans had the 11th-best pressure rate.
But for the second consecutive offseason, the Texans traded their best O-lineman. This time it was Tytus Howard. Former second-round pick Juice Scruggs was traded, too. But they re-signed right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Trent Brown, two starters with red flags.
Houston included draft capital with Scruggs for 29-year-old running back David Montgomery, pairing him with 2025 fourth-round pick Woody Marks and 2024 sixth-rounder Jawhar Jordan.
The Texans also still have pass-catching options for Stroud, but his line remains a concern.
Stroud could still stand for the Texans to upgrade the other guard spot. They had also been linked to the center market before standing pat to open free agency, and could revisit the crop of available options.
Texans GM Following Same Pattern
Nick Caserio, Houston Texans
GettyHouston Texans general manager Nick Caserio speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Combine.
Notably, some of the moves that Caserio made–or did not make–follow his process from previous years. He drafted Aireontae Ersery after a trade up in 2025, and the Texans installed him at left tackle to protect Stroud’s blindside after the fact.
That decision sparked the trade of 2025 free agent pickup Cam Robinson.
“Caserio’s approach on the first day of free agency was a similar approach as in years past,” The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander wrote on March 10. “In many ways, general manager Caserio has treated free agency like a stockbroker. He’s never really agreed to lucrative deals with players on free agency’s first day or when their stock was its highest.
“It’s Caserio’s position to buy stock when it has dropped, meaning he’ll be more active in the following days when the prices for some players go down.”
As Barnwell noted, some of Caserio’s splashier moves–namely, trades for C.J. Gardner-Johnson and, to a lesser extent, since he produced in 2024, Joe Mixon–have not panned out as the Texans hoped.
Stroud (and draft mate Will Anderson Jr.) will soon make every Texans decision paramount.
“As the second day gets underway, Houston must turn to arguably its most glaring hole,” Alexander wrote. “They must continue to improve their offensive line.”