As much as speculation has become abundant around C.J. Stroud, the odds that the Houston Texans trade him remain long. What is unclear is how much the Texans’ stance would change depending on potential replacements.
Many suggestions have only accounted for the Texans’ current backup, Davis Mills.
A potential target like Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals could move the needle a lot more at team headquarters, though.
Texans Trade Pitch Lands Joe Burrow
GettyJoe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on during warmups before a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Texans have shown no public signs of moving on from Stroud, and most of the trade speculation is due to a combination of his contract extension eligibility this offseason and his poor postseason.
He has garnered nothing but public support from teammates and team brass since then.
Still, if there is hesitation among the Texans’ brain trust regarding Stroud, the idea of obtaining Burrow to replace him could be intriguing.
“Unless the trade of CJ Stroud directly leads to the acquisition of Joe Burrow, the #Texans arent trading CJ Stroud,” SportsRadio 610’s Patrick Creighton posted on X on February 16 in reaction to recent speculation about rival interest in Houston’s franchise QB.
“That is too good a football team to roll with a backup QB or someone else’s retread.”
This Heavy Sports Texans trade proposal would aim to bring Burrow to Houston in exchange for Stroud, pairing the Bengals star with what was the No. 1 overall defense in 2025.
Texans get:
- Joe Burrow
Bengals get:
- C.J. Stroud
- 2026 first-round pick (No. 28 overall)
- 2027 first-round pick
- 2026 third-round pick (No. 69 overall)
This deal follows a similar framework to the Los Angeles Rams trade with the Detroit Lions in 2021, swapping Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford. The Texans would be hoping for a similar payoff, with LA winning the Super Bowl that season.
Creighton took the situation a step further, saying, “Longer HOU coaches him, worse hes gotten,” and, in far clearer terms, “Theres a major coaching issue.”
Whether head coach DeMeco Ryans is the issue has also been a talking point for some Texans fans. The Texans already changed offensive coordinators from Bobby Slowik to Nick Caley before this past season.
That is in addition to the issues the Texans would face in a trade for Burrow.
Joe Burrow Comes With Red Flags
GettyJoe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals throws an interception while taking a hit from Tavius Robinson #95 of the Baltimore Ravens.
Moving Stroud in a trade, even for Burrow, would not be without risks for the Texans, who already know the makeup of the player occupying the most important position on the football field for them.
The most tangible roadblock is Burrow’s five-year, $275 million contract and $47.9 million cap hit for the 2026 season.
The Texans are over the salary cap heading into the offseason, per Over The Cap.
There are also questions about Burrow’s ability to operate without his current playmakers. Most concerning for the Texans, though, would arguably be Burrow’s injury history. He has missed multiple games in three of his six NFL seasons, including two of the past three.
Unlike Stroud, who missed three games as a rookie and then again this past season, both times due to concussions, Burrow has suffered from a variety of injuries.
A team that has protection issues to address might be wary of the Burrow.
Texans Must Take Smart Approach With C.J. Stroud
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans greets fans before a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, has the highest sack rate among all QBs with at least 2,800 pass attempts since the start of his rookie season, per Stathead. Stroud, taken second overall in 2023, has the third-highest rate among QBs with 1,400-plus attempts since 2023.
Stroud’s greatest pro is that he is more than five years younger than Burrow, which the Texans or any team facing such a decision must weigh before deciding to make a trade.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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