Texans GM Caserio calls Stroud trade speculation 'moronic'
Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio dismissed rumors about possibly trading quarterback C.J. Stroud, calling the speculation "moronic," per KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson.
"He's our quarterback, he ain't going anywhere," Caserio told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"We have a lot of confidence, a lot of belief. I will say that the philosophy that (head coach) DeMeco (Ryans) and I have is that we're going to support our players and do everything we can to help them. This league is about ups and downs. Nothing is perfect."
Stroud enjoyed a prolific rookie season after the Texans drafted him second overall in 2023, passing for a career-high 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns and leading Houston to a playoff berth.
However, his statistics have regressed in each campaign since he won Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Trade speculation regarding Stroud has ramped up recently after Houston fell in the divisional round for the third straight season. Stroud turned in a poor performance in the playoff loss to the New England Patriots, completing 42.6% of his passes and throwing four interceptions to one touchdown.
The 24-year-old addressed his postseason struggles Monday in a speech at the Global Humanitarian Awards in Houston, where the C.J. Stroud Foundation received an honor. Stroud used the moment to emphasize the importance of how overcoming adversity, both on the field and through his foundation's work, has shaped his perspective on growth.
"Of course, my last game didn't go the way I wanted it to," Stroud said, per Athlon Sports' Christian Alamodin. "I'm OK with suffering in front of people, because I know somebody's going to see how I respond. We all have bad days."
Stroud still has one year remaining on his rookie contract. The Texans can pick up his fifth-year option to keep him with the team through the 2027 season or begin extension talks to secure his future with the franchise.
"We have a lot of confidence in C.J. We've got a lot of confidence in our players, and we're glad he's our quarterback," Caserio said.