Talking to the media at the 2026 NFL Combine, Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio shut down the rumors that the team was looking to move quarterback C.J. Stroud after his disastrous campaign in the 2025 playoffs.

With Houston fans not wanting to waste another season of what they consider a Super Bowl-caliber defense, the cries have been loud to trade Stroud, as many worry that he will never be able to return to his rookie of the year play.

However, with speculation looming about Stroud’s future, Caserio backed his young quarterback, calling any trade speculation “moronic.” 

“He’s not going anywhere,” Caserio said to the media.

GM Nick Caserio on CJ Stroud trade speculation:

“He’s not going anywhere.” pic.twitter.com/5W6YylUK6A

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) February 24, 2026Playoff struggles raise outside questions

With arguably the hottest defense entering the postseason, the Texans believed that they had a favorable path to the AFC championship, facing veteran Aaron Rodgers, who was limited in mobility, and second-year quarterback Drake Maye, who had very little experience against a pass rush as formidable as Houston. 

However, despite the favorable matchups, Stroud struggled. He threw two touchdowns to five interceptions across their two games, including a career-high four interceptions in their match against the Patriots.

Stroud’s postseason performance was the culmination of an already disappointing season, which featured him throwing a career low in yards and touchdowns while missing three games due to a concussion.

Entering the 2026 season, Stroud will be in the fourth year of his rookie contract and is officially eligible for a contract extension.

Once considered a franchise cornerstone, the Texans now enter the offseason with questions about whether they could trust Stroud to return to his rookie form before giving him a top-of-the-market extension.

One thing that could help Stroud regain his composure is a significant upgrade to his offensive line. Houston’s line ranked 27th at the end of the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus, and was sacked three times in each of his playoff games.

Houston Texans GM Nick Caserio on FA Guard Ed Ingram #htownmade pic.twitter.com/z4jafEGC6S

— 713 Houston Sports (@713HouSports) February 24, 2026

With the Combine underway and the legal tampering period starting in two weeks, Houston will need to focus their efforts on making Stroud feel comfortable if it hopes to reclaim the potential he showed as a rookie.