C.J. Stroud
Getty
This trade pitch would see the Cardinals pick up C.J. Stroud from the Texans
The Arizona Cardinals are undergoing a rebuild this offseason. The team has found a new head coach, Mike LaFleur, to lead the way, and they have moved on from their presumed quarterback of the future, Kyler Murray. While the Cardinals have talented players across their roster, there are still several areas of need that must be addressed.
Perhaps the most pressing of the bunch comes at the quarterback position, where the duo of Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew IV is set to replace Murray in 2026. At some point, Arizona is going to need a new quarterback of the future. In a surprise twist, the Houston Texans may be open to moving on from C.J. Stroud, so let’s check out a trade pitch that would see the Cardinals find a way to bring him to town.
Cardinals’ C.J. Stroud Trade Pitch
Cardinals receive: QB C.J. Stroud
Texans receive: 2026 first-round pick (No. 3), 2027 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick (No. 34)
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Texans, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns, which helped him earn the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Since then, though, Stroud has actually regressed to the point where he threw four interceptions in the Texans’ divisional round loss to the New England Patriots to close out the 2025 campaign.
Houston now finds itself in a tough spot with Stroud. While he looked fantastic as a rookie, he’s struggled over the past two years, with the offense actually looking better at times in 2025 when Davis Mills was filling in for him. The Texans haven’t signed Stroud to a long-term contract just yet, so they could conceivably trade him without incurring a massive salary cap hit.
If there’s a team that could use a young quarterback with upside, it’s the Cardinals. Brissett and Minshew can hold down the fort for now, but neither guy is the long-term answer at this position for Arizona. There’s no doubt this is a massive trade package for Stroud, but if he can regain his form from his rookie season, there’s a decent shot he would be worth this steep price.
Would the Cardinals, Texans Be Interested in This C.J. Stroud Trade Pitch?
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans looks to pass during a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
As noted above, the Cardinals are rebuilding, so would it make sense for them to give up such a large amount of draft capital for a struggling Stroud? It’s tough to say they would, as this roster isn’t exactly a quarterback away from competing for a playoff spot. Arizona is likely looking to take things slow, and beyond that, there’s a shot that Stroud wouldn’t even pan out for the team. In 2025, he threw for just 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns in 14 games of action.
Beyond that, the Texans don’t seem to be in a rush to trade Stroud. Given how poorly he performed in the playoffs, it was reasonable to see his name pop up in trade rumors early on this offseason. Houston doesn’t appear ready to give up on Stroud just yet, though, and while this is a huge trade offer from Arizona, the timing of this deal is off for both teams.