QB option nobody is talking about...

Scares me..He hasn't had much help from his OL, but he hasn't progressed as much as you'd like to see if you're a Tx fan.

If they're looking to trade him?
1). They're looking to move on for a reason
2). This would be a full on move from JJM, which I think is premature at this point.

supafreak84 wrote:
https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/onsi/news/houston-texans-cj-stroud-linked-early-trade-speculation

There's some real talk in Houston on if they want to pony up a big contract extension with Stroud reaching his contract year or if they want to even pick up his 5th year option at all. If that's the case, they could be open to trade options and the Vikings are in the market. 

Thoughts on Stroud? Personally I really like him. I'm not sure what the Texans would do at the position if they traded him. I'd imagine trade compensation would likely be McCarthy, first round pick in 2026 (18th), and first round pick in 2027, or something in that range.

If the Texans are willing to get rid of him, why would we want him for 2 first round picks and a top 10 drafted QB and then pay him upper mid QB money?

I’d trade a first for Stroud, sign his 5th year option, let him compete for 2026, and then trade JJM or Stroud post 2026. I wouldn't be blindly committing to someone else's garbage though and getting rid of JJM.

why? so we could have 2 young QBs that we arent fully committing to?

we have to give JJM every chance in 26, because its what you do unless you see nothing, and we have seen something to this point. brining in a young starter is just pissing away JJM and picks used to draft him. to soon IMO.

medaille wrote:

If the Texans are willing to get rid of him, why would we want him for 2 first round picks and a top 10 drafted QB and then pay him upper mid QB money?

I’d trade a first for Stroud, sign his 5th year option, let him compete for 2026, and then trade JJM or Stroud post 2026. I wouldn't be blindly committing to someone else's garbage though and getting rid of JJM.

It all depends on OConnell and what he truly thinks about McCarthy for this upcoming season (where his job might be on the line) and into the future. Nobody knows, but all indications are that they will explore all options to upgrade the position. If he doesn't trust McCarthy, then all options are on the table with him essentially now calling the shots on personnel. Stroud fits the KOC offense better as a more polished pocket passer that can make all the throws. To me, if this was a realistic possibility, it's option 1A..

KOC reportedly loved Stroud coming out so if he were available, I think we'd call to see what it would take.

We can offer a much better offensive system, we have premier weapons to throw to, and a better OL. It's not hard to imagine his statistical production going up just like it did with Cousins, Darnold, etc.

All depends on how the team views JJ McCarthy and his potential growth.

And on this topic, Davis Mills is probably one of the better backup QB's in the league. Very Sam Darnold'ish. I could see there being a discussion on can they win with Mills, while playing great defense and running the football? Not paying Stroud would give them roster flexibility long term. If they wanted McCarthy, that would give them another option along with the draft compensation in a Stroud trade. Lots of ways to look at a Stroud trade to the Vikings making sense for both teams

I'll take things that will never happen for $1000, Alex. 

The Texans would be fools for trading Stroud. And what? Give the job to Davis Mills? Or move on to the QB craps table known as the NFL draft? Ridiculous. He may not have played well in his last game, but I can think of a few good QBs who didn't play well in a game or two or ten. One of them just won the Super Bowl. 

CJ's 24 years old, won rookie of the year and has taken his team to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. Yeah, let's trade THAT guy for what's behind door number 3.

MaroonBells wrote:
I'll take things that will never happen for $1000, Alex. 

The Texans would be fools for trading Stroud. And what? Give the job to Davis Mills? Or move on to the QB craps table known as the NFL draft? Ridiculous. He may not have played well in his last game, but I can think of a few good QBs who didn't play well in a game or two or ten. One of them just won the Super Bowl. 

CJ's 24 years old, won rookie of the year and has taken his team to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. Yeah, let's trade THAT guy for what's behind door number 3.

Stranger things my friend, stranger things...

Anybody have Parsons getting traded last offseason? It really all boils down to do the Texans see the continued upside with Stroud, for the contract amount it will take to retain him while also trying to retain Nico Collins, Derek Stingley, Will Anderson, etc on contract extensions? It's a murky situation where they won't be able to keep everybody, and as stated, Stroud has left a lot to be desired in playoff games

The 2026 NFL draft class isn't particularly strong overall, and it is extremely thin at quarterback. After presumed first selection Fernando Mendoza (Heisman winner, national champion at Indiana and Raiders QB in a little under three months), the best options are Alabama's Ty Simpson and ... probably LSU's Garrett Nussmeier? This class might play out like 2022, when only one quarterback went in Round 1 (Kenny Pickett, No. 20) and only four went in the first two days.

There are some names available in the veteran quarterback market, but those names aren't very exciting.

While last offseason included free agent quarterbacks such as (now-Super Bowl champion) Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers, this offseason's pool includes ... well, Daniel Jones (off an Achilles injury) and Aaron Rodgers (one year older).

Because Jones and Rodgers are both strongly suspected to stay with their current teams, the biggest contract might fall to Packers backup and quality spot starter Malik Willis. Or could the Falcons' Kirk Cousins get one more solid contract after Atlanta releases him before the new league year begins March 11?

If the draft and the free agent market are thin, what is a quarterback-needy team to do? Win in the margins. While this isn't the offseason for stacking quarterbacks on a big board or pick-your-poison free agent targets, the smart teams with financial flexibility will still have the ability to attack the veteran quarterback trade market. And two names stand out above the rest: Arizona's Kyler Murray and Miami's Tua Tagovailoa. (San Francisco backup Mac Jones reportedly will not be traded this offseason.)

When Murray and Tagovailoa are the offseason's best options, it isn't a great QB offseason. But both are workable under the right conditions, and below them, there are plenty of veteran journeymen or low-risk gambles teams will consider at the position. Quarterback movement is inevitable, so let's look at all of the candidates for changing teams, as well as the teams in the market for their services.

Malik Willis
K. Cousins
Will Levis
Jason Milroe
Tanner McKee
Davis Mills
Anthony Richardson Sr
Spencer Rattler
Derek Carr

Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota will absolutely bring in competition for J.J. McCarthy, as it reportedly tried to do last season with Rodgers. Cousins is the obvious choice because he has scheme familiarity from his time in Minnesota as coach Kevin O'Connell's starter. But O'Connell is a big believer in quarterback development, and I would not be surprised if he wants to go for a younger player to challenge McCarthy's seat not just in 2026 but also beyond. Every toolsy young passer who can operate from the pocket (Tanner McKee, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, etc.) is on my radar for a surprise Vikings trade.

(It will probably just be Cousins, though, let's be honest.)

ESPN

Derek Carr would be another interesting name you could bring in short term without giving up completely on McCarthy. The problem is, if Carr starts (presumably) and JJ sits the bench as the backup all year, you'd essentially have three years of incomplete data on McCarthy on a four year rookie deal where you'd need to decide sooner rather than later on picking up his 5th year option. Not ideal, and any advantage to building on a rookie quarterback contract goes out the door in the last gasp of the Kwesi building blueprint.

Pull Stroud's stats (I didn't watch the Texans). He's no better then JJM. He's just got more experience.

Levis or A. Richardson

A real competition for JJM to win or lose. He hasn't nailed down anything yet

AGRforever wrote:
Pull Stroud's stats (I didn't watch the Texans).  He's no better then JJM.  He's just got more experience.

I look at the QBR charts for the 2025 season as a pretty good indicator of play. Stroud was ranked 11, JJ was somewhere off the charts (below 28). I would be happy if JJM gets to the stroud level.

purplefaithful wrote:
Levis or A. Richardson

A real competition for JJM to win or lose. He hasn't nailed down anything yet

I'd be in favor of Levis, although it's not likely to happen as KOC would not put his job on the line for Levis and would want a more experienced, proven veteran. Levis has talent though...

Richardson, even before the eye injury, is just such a massive question mark. OConnell may like him, but I can't see to the point he'd stake his job to it.

supafreak84 wrote:

I'd be in favor of Levis, although it's not likely to happen as KOC would not put his job on the line for Levis and would want a more experienced, proven veteran. Levis has talent though...

Richardson, even before the eye injury, is just such a massive question mark. OConnell may like him, but I can't see to the point he'd stake his job to it.

How are you staking your job if you give up a day 3 pick for a QB2?  Which is all either would be until they learned the offense well enough to compete with JJM,  which isn't likely a day 1 situation.

supafreak84 wrote:

It all depends on OConnell and what he truly thinks about McCarthy for this upcoming season (where his job might be on the line) and into the future. Nobody knows, but all indications are that they will explore all options to upgrade the position. If he doesn't trust McCarthy, then all options are on the table with him essentially now calling the shots on personnel. Stroud fits the KOC offense better as a more polished pocket passer that can make all the throws. To me, if this was a realistic possibility, it's option 1A..

They used this phrase well more than once. He said, "upgrade the room" Not upgrade the position at the starter level. Translation, they want to get a serious back up that can make the room better and put that extra pressure on JJM.

JimmyinSD wrote:

How are you staking your job if you give up a day 3 pick for a QB2?  Which is all either would be until they learned the offense well enough to compete with JJM,  which isn't likely a day 1 situation.

Because OConnell needs an upgrade at quarterback that can run his offense the way he wants. Whether that's short term or long term. If that quarterback is an unproven guy like Levis or Richardson, why would he do that when I think we can all agree, he probably needs a playoff win to keep his job beyond this upcoming season. Guys like Carr, Rodgers, and even Cousins, fit that profile. A short term, reliable veteran that can run the offense is most likely.

Canthony wrote:

They used this phrase well more than once. He said, "upgrade the room" Not upgrade the position at the starter level. Translation, they want to get a serious back up that can make the room better and put that extra pressure on JJM.

I think he was vague for a reason and that was not to shake McCarthy's confidence by benching him before even adding another quarterback. I think he will definately be looking for a starting caliber quarterback with experience and the ability to run his system

supafreak84 wrote:

Because OConnell needs an upgrade at quarterback that can run his offense the way he wants. Whether that's short term or long term. If that quarterback is an unproven guy like Levis or Richardson, why would he do that when I think we can all agree, he probably needs a playoff win to keep his job beyond this upcoming season. Guys like Carr, Rodgers, and even Cousins, fit that profile. A short term, reliable veteran that can run the offense is most likely.

I think he was vague for a reason and that was not to shake McCarthy's confidence by benching him before even adding another quarterback. I think he will definately be looking for a starting caliber quarterback with experience and the ability to run his system

KOCs O is often the problem with the O not getting it done,  we've all talked to length about the lack of shorter routes and a run game to counter an aggressive pass rush.   Rogers and Cousins wont change that,  as they wont survive the beating they will get.  With each passing year,  and our OL cast offs playing better in other systems convince me that whoever it is having to hold the ball is going to take a lot of hits unless the O changes,   young guys at least provide a mobile aspect to the position that those 3 dont.   That will do more for his O than guys in their mid to late 30s and 40s.  Carr sitting out a year and no experience in the O would be an interesting back up,  but I wouldn't expect him to do much either.

Unless they are giving up on JJM and the dream of a serious run with a rookie deal,  then they need to stay with the plan,  even if it means another struggling year,  but weve been down this road so many time where the organization bails on their plan its getting sickening.  Its no damn wonder they have struggled for so long.

JimmyinSD wrote:
KOCs O is often the problem with the O not getting it done,  we've all talked to length about the lack of shorter routes and a run game to counter an aggressive pass rush.   Rogers and Cousins wont change that,  as they wont survive the beating they will get.  With each passing year,  and our OL cast offs playing better in other systems convince me that whoever it is having to hold the ball is going to take a lot of hits unless the O changes,   young guys at least provide a mobile aspect to the position that those 3 dont.   That will do more for his O than guys in their mid to late 30s and 40s.  Carr sitting out a year and no experience in the O would be an interesting back up,  but I wouldn't expect him to do much either.

Unless they are giving up on JJM and the dream of a serious run with a rookie deal,  then they need to stay with the plan,  even if it means another struggling year,  but weve been down this road so many time where the organization bails on their plan its getting sickening.  Its no damn wonder they have struggled for so long.

Man I couldn't disagree more. This is not a rebuilding team and there's too much at stake. You have one of the best defenses in the NFL. You have one of the best WR rooms in the NFL. You have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL (when healthy). And you're OK wasting another year of Justin Jefferson and Brian Flores for some silly "stick to the plan" nonsense? We should all be grateful that Justin Jefferson is a good dude. But how long do we try his patience? 

There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that the Vikings, who missed the playoffs by a half game, would've coasted into the playoffs with just average QB play. Andy Freaking Dalton would've taken this team to the playoffs. Sure, stick to the plan; keep developing JJ. But they have to have a much better failsafe this year.

JimmyinSD wrote:
KOCs O is often the problem with the O not getting it done,  we've all talked to length about the lack of shorter routes and a run game to counter an aggressive pass rush.   Rogers and Cousins wont change that,  as they wont survive the beating they will get.  With each passing year,  and our OL cast offs playing better in other systems convince me that whoever it is having to hold the ball is going to take a lot of hits unless the O changes,   young guys at least provide a mobile aspect to the position that those 3 dont.   That will do more for his O than guys in their mid to late 30s and 40s.  Carr sitting out a year and no experience in the O would be an interesting back up,  but I wouldn't expect him to do much either.

Unless they are giving up on JJM and the dream of a serious run with a rookie deal,  then they need to stay with the plan,  even if it means another struggling year,  but weve been down this road so many time where the organization bails on their plan its getting sickening.  It’s no damn wonder they have struggled for so long.

I wouldn’t expect Carr to ball out either but you’d hope he can be steady, which is why he’s perfect for the role of backup QB… if KO still believes in JJM.

If the team is “done” with McCarthy, Stroud might be the best option we can hope for if the other choices are Murray or Tua. I’m not his biggest fan in the world but I can picture Stroud working out well here. And I do think a lot of Texan fans are extremely leery about Stroud so a trade could maybe happen.