Texans GM Dismisses Trade Talk, Stands Behind Quarterback C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans General Manager Nick Caserio firmly rejected online speculation about trading quarterback C.J. Stroud, calling such rumors "moronic." Despite Stroud's playoff struggles this season, Caserio expressed complete confidence in the young quarterback heading into his fourth NFL season.

Houston Texans General Manager Nick Caserio delivered a strong message of support for quarterback C.J. Stroud during Tuesday’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, dismissing trade rumors as foolish chatter.

“He’s our quarterback. He isn’t going anywhere. We have a lot of confidence, a lot of belief,” Caserio stated. “I’m glad he’s our quarterback.”

The unwavering support comes after Stroud’s difficult postseason performance sparked online discussions about potentially trading the young signal-caller. During his third NFL campaign, Stroud appeared in 14 games, leading Houston to a 9-5 record while throwing for 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions. A concussion suffered in Week 9 sidelined him for three contests.

Stroud’s postseason troubles included throwing five interceptions across two playoff appearances – four of those coming in Houston’s defeat to New England. He also lost possession five times during the team’s wild-card victory against Pittsburgh, losing two fumbles in that contest.

Caserio emphasized the natural ebb and flow of professional football when addressing his quarterback’s recent struggles.

“This league is about ups and downs,” Caserio explained. “Nothing’s perfect. There was no team that was undefeated unless I missed something this year, that’s not going to happen. By and large, we’re probably going to lose five or six games. There’s going to be some margin on either side. You’re going to have some good plays. You’re going to have some bad plays. You’re going to have some good games. You’re going to have some bad games.”

The general manager continued his defense of Stroud, focusing on resilience and long-term perspective.

“How do you bounce back? How do you handle that? This league is a one-game-at-a-time proposition,” he said. “How you handle every situation ultimately is going to determine your success and your longevity. No lost confidence.”

Throughout his professional career spanning 46 regular-season starts, Stroud has maintained a 28-18 record while completing 63.8% of his attempts for 10,876 yards and 62 touchdowns with 25 interceptions. His impressive debut season in 2023 featured 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdowns against just five picks across 15 games, earning him both Pro Bowl recognition and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Houston selected the former Ohio State standout with the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.