It's the offseason, which means the rumor mill is already spinning in full force. As NFL teams adjust to coaching staff changes and expiring contracts, roster moves are sure to follow. Now one once-prominant quarterback is already at the center of trade rumors... and this is sure to perk the ears of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The trade buzz is building surrounding Houston Texans quarterback, C.J. Stroud.
From Ryan Fitzpatrick and suggesting some teams would 'trade two first-round picks' for Stroud to the MMQB Podcast floating out the idea that the Steelers should trade for Stroud, this is a topic we can no longer ignore.
It's not hard to see why the Steelers would be listed as a fit. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season—and after failing on the Kenny Pickett draft selection— Pittsburgh has streamed one quarterback after the next. Now it appears they might be forced to settle for a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers for the 2026 season (if he decides to return).
But as badly as the Pittsburgh Steelers need a quarterback, they can't afford to get mixed up in potential C.J. Stroud trade talks—if he were actually to hit the trade block.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must avoid a potential C.J. Stroud trade with the Houston Texans
If I had taken this stance after the 2023 season, you would have thought I'd lost my mind. Stroud, the second overall pick out of Ohio State in the 2023 NFL Draft, was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year after an exceptional season that included 4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Following his first season, Stroud looked like one of the most untouchable assets in football.
But a lot has changed since then.
Though Stroud techcnically has never had a losing record in his first three NFL seasons, his performance has plummeted back down to earth. After his stats and efficiency dipped in 2024, Stroud took another step back in 2025.
Last season, Stroud recorded just 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 14 games. This included a career low of 217.2 passing yards per game. Meanwhile, Stroud hasn't managed a passer rating over 93.0 in each of his past two seasons. For his efforts, Stroud ranked 31st in the NFL with a 65.0 PFF grade in 2025—lower than players like Aaron Rodgers, Joe Flacco, and Justin Fields.
Quite frankly, the Texans have been winning the past two seasons in spite of Stroud, not because of him.
If this were the only problem, the Steelers could still justify trading for the 2023 first-round pick. Stroud is still just 24 years old with more than enough time to turn his career around. But the cost of this gamble would be too steep.
In addition to Ryan Fitzpatrick estimating that it could cost more than two first-round picks to acquire the young quarterback, the Steelers would need to immediately turn around and give him a massive contract extension. Stroud is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and even with a looming fifth-year option, he will need a new deal if Pittsburgh trades for him.
Based on what quarterbacks with similar numbers and career paths have received, Stroud is looking at earning upwards of $50 million per season. Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence each earned $55 million per year on their new deals, while Tua Tagovailoa and Brock Purdy were handed $53 million per season.
I still like Stroud, and I think he could turn things around. However, I don't like him enough to give up multiple first-round picks in a trade and ink him to a massive contract with loads of guaranteed money in hopes of salvaging a player who once looked like a franchise quarterback over two years ago.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need to find a franchise quarterback as badly as any team. But in the case of C.J. Stroud trade rumors, the likely reward doesn't outweigh all of the risks involved in a trade of this magnitude.