It's that time of the offseason where free agency is around the corner in the NFL, while trade buzz continues to pick up. Once a standout for Ohio State and Ryan Day, C.J. Stroud was a first-round pick of the Houston Texans, but things haven't quite gone to plan for him in Texas.
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This past campaign, Stroud and the Texans made the postseason, but the young signal-caller looked terrible against the Patriots, with him throwing four interceptions in a loss. Since then, there have been talks that maybe, just maybe he's not the long-term answer for the AFC South side.
In stunning fashion, might a trade be on the way? That's not what we were expecting, but Todd McShay has opened the door for that to go down, with trade rumors surrounding Stroud arriving a bit out of the blue;
Todd McShay dropping C.J. Stroud as a potential trade candidate this offseason is fascinating.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) February 16, 2026
CJ Stroud trade rumors have arrived and Ohio State fans didn't see it coming
A member of the 2023 draft class, Stroud was taken with the No. 2 overall pick by Houston. His rookie season, he was electric, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns. He immediately had the Houston faithful thinking he was going to be a stud for the next decade.
Despite that, the past two seasons there's been a bit of a negative turn. In 2025, Stroud appeared in 14 games, throwing for 3,041 yards and 19 TDs, while adding eight interceptions. His performance against New England, the eventual AFC champs, still has people shaking their heads.
Still, would the Texans seriously consider moving on from the former No. 2 overall pick after just three seasons, especially with him looking so sharp at times? It's a bit perplexxing, but you never know what might happen if the right offer arrives.
Stroud was a superstar for the Buckeyes, turning heads from start to finish during his career. Unfortunately, he was never able to beat Michigan or win the natty while in Columbus, but that doesn't take away from the support he still has from people on campus. If he does get traded, it'd be a major surprise and from our chair it'd be a move that the Texans would come to regret.