In recent days, multiple reports have surfaced regarding C.J. Stroud’s status and the possibility of a trade from the Houston Texans. He ranked No. 19 in PFSN NFL QB Impact Metric (QBi) last season, reflecting a mixed overall impact. Despite the speculation, Stroud remains under contract on his rookie deal, and the Texans have given no indication that he is available.
Since his rookie year, Stroud has regressed, and it has hurt the team’s Super Bowl hopes. In 2023, he was not only the NFL’s top rookie but also one of the league’s best quarterbacks overall, ranking fifth in QBi. Since then, his ranking dropped to No. 33 in 2024 before rebounding slightly to No. 19 in 2025.
Although he showed some improvement this season, Stroud reverted to that 2024 level once the playoffs began. He committed 5 fumbles (2 lost) and threw 1 interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round, then followed it up with 4 interceptions against the Patriots.
New York Jets
For years, the New York Jets have cycled through quarterbacks. Whether they were veterans or rookies, none of them seemed to work. Head coach Aaron Glenn enters a crucial second season and a bad start to next year, and the Jets could be looking for another new head coach. New York is entering the NFL draft with great capital.
The Jets currently own the second overall pick and could opt to trade the selection after Oregon’s Dante Moore opted to return to college for another year. Stroud could solve the Jets’ quarterback problem.
Arizona Cardinals
One of the most interesting scenarios is the Arizona Cardinals trading for Stroud. Arizona has already dealt with a lot of uncertainty about Kyler Murray’s future. His contract affects the team’s salary cap in a negative way; therefore, they might be in the market for a new quarterback.
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For Houston, taking on Murray’s contract would cancel out the financial benefits of having Stroud on a rookie deal. Still, if Arizona included valuable draft picks with Murray in a bigger trade, it might be worth considering.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are entering a transition period. With new head coach Jeff Hadley and former Houston offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik on staff, Miami could sell Stroud on familiarity and continuity.
Stroud’s best football came in a system designed by Slowik during his rookie year. If any organization can recreate that environment quickly, it would be Miami. Without a premium pick package, this scenario is less likely than the other two teams’, but still worth considering.
