C.J. Stroud just played the worst game of his NFL career and fell short in the Divisional Round again.
Lamar Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP who needs a new football environment and new head coach.
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C.J. Stroud faces an uncertain future with the Houston TexansCredit: gettyRavens QB would be immediate Texans upgrade
Some blockbuster trades require months of internal planning and background vetting.
Other deals never get better than the first proposal and make too much sense not to eventually happen.
Which means the Houston Texans have a few serious questions to ask themselves after Stroud threw four first-half interceptions and was the primary reason his team fell 28-16 to the New England Patriots on Sunday in an AFC Divisional Round defeat.
Will Stroud become a top-five NFL quarterback for the 2026 season?
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Will Stroud ever get back to his first-year peak, when he won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the Carolina Panthers look like fools by taking Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick?
And if Jackson is available via trade this offseason, is there any reason for the Texans not to explore a blockbuster trade that would instantly change two franchises at once?
The salary cap implications will be tangled, and it’s rare for teams to swap Pro Bowl quarterbacks mid-career.
But just imagine a revived Jackson paired with the Texans’ defense, which technically only gave up 21 points on Sunday since Stroud threw a pick-six interception to New England defender Marcus Jones.
It’s surreal how bad Stroud was in the first half, which saw the Texans give away a 10-7 second-quarter lead.
Stroud blamed himself after four INTs
“I feel like I let people down,” said Stroud, after finishing 20-of-47 for 212 yards, one touchdown, four picks, three sacks and a 28 passer rating.
“I’m not happy with that. It hurts. I’m not used to it.”
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This could be a perfect time for the Texans to explore a trade for Lamar JacksonCredit: Getty
It was also surreal realizing that the Texans – who haven’t been to an AFC Championship game since their 2000 franchise inception – were still in the contest early in the fourth quarter and within 21-16.
That’s a tribute to Azeez Al-Shaair, Jalen Pitre, Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr. and a DeMeco Ryans-coach Texans defense that was Super Bowl-worthy, but rarely backed by a proper offense throughout the 2025 season.
“It’s tough to win a game when you turn the ball over five times,” said Ryans, in the understatement of the playoffs.
Stroud isn’t close to being the best QB in the AFC South.
Trevor Lawrence won back that honor this year, while the Jacksonville Jaguars went 13-4 and should be strong again in 2026.
Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes will also be back next season, while Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, Bo Nix and Justin Herbert will compete in a loaded AFC.
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Then there’s the fact that Drake Maye has already surpassed Stroud in New England’s remade offense and should win NFL MVP this year.
Pivot to Baltimore and find a frustrated Jackson waiting for a new environment and football recharge.
Hard to double down on Stroud in Houston
Sure, he Baltimore’s QB wants a new contract (again) and also hasn’t proven himself in the playoffs.
But the Texans are better off paying Action Jackson than financially doubling down on Stroud in 2026 and beyond.
A new five-year extension could approach the $300 million range, and Stroud’s passing numbers have declined during the last two seasons.
On talent alone, Jackson is still one of the best athletes in the NFL and his career breakthrough theoretically has to happen at some point.
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Jackson is near the top of the NFL in athletic talentCredit: Getty
The Texans must know internally that Stroud isn’t good enough, just three seasons after taking him at No. 2 overall.
Their fans have been waiting for the next stage since 2000, and four picks in a playoff game has more in common with past forgettable QBs Brian Hoyer and Brock Osweiler than winning the Super Bowl.
The Texans ignited their new era by finally getting rid of Deshaun Watson in a franchise-altering trade.
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At least make a call to Baltimore to figure out what exactly is going on with the Ravens – and what it would take to give the Texans the most talented QB in the league in 2026.
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