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C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans warms up before a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
If C.J. Stroud’s future with the Houston Texans remains uncertain, the noise and speculation will only grow louder, and there are already whispers that former first-overall pick Kyler Murray could be a replacement for the ex-No. 3 pick.
The Arizona Cardinals released Murray, leaving him free to choose his next home in free agency.
Houston has been mentioned as a possibility, though the links remain speculative at this point in the offseason calendar.
Texans Floated as Landing Spot for Kyler Murray
GettyKyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals in action against the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans’ connection to Murray came about during a discussion about the former No. 1 overall pick (2019) meeting with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. Minnesota is viewed as the “front-runner,” but Murray is keeping his options open.
That means for 2026 and 2027, which is where the Texans could fit in.
Arizona Sports 98.7’s John Gambadoro name-dropped Houston as a potential option amid the uncertainty around Stroud’s long-term future with the Texans.
“They [Murray’s camp] are going to use the next 24 hours to look at other options that could be better for him in 2027. That would mean what teams may need a quarterback in 2027? Could it be the Rams, the Texans? Atlanta? Could it be the Jets? What team’s out there? Again, this is just a feeling-out process. The only visit scheduled is Minnesota,” Gambadoro said on “Burns & Gambo” on March 11.
“They will take these next 24 hours to look and discuss other options for teams that might need a quarterback in 2027. They’re not opposed to being a backup for one year. Now again, the priority would be, ‘Can I get a starting job somewhere where they want me, and I like [the situation]?’ So, I do think Minnesota is the front-runner for Kyler Murray, but I do think that they will try to get to know some teams, some of these teams haven’t talked to Kyler since he was a 21-year-old kid.”
If there were any doubts about Gambadoro’s mention of the Texans, he doubled down. He even named Stroud the second time around, saying, “I do think that they will try to get to know some teams. Some of these teams haven’t talked to Kyler since he was a 21-year-old kid.
“Could the Texans need a quarterback in 2027 if they move off of C.J. Stroud if he has a bad year?”
The speculation regarding Stroud’s and Murray’s potential futures in Houston has come amid clear messaging from the Texans regarding the latter.
Texans Have Left Door Open for C.J. Stroud Speculation
GettyC.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans walks off the field after losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
While they have not commented on Murray, Texans general manager Nick Caserio has been adamant in support of Stroud ahead of the 2026 season. It is the final on the now-fourth-year QB’s rookie contract.
Caserio has been noticeably less committal beyond that, though.
Stroud is extension-eligible this offseason. The Texans could utilize his fifth-year option. That would give them an even more extended look at him before making a long-term decision.
They can use the franchise tag up to three times, too. A pivot to Murray would need to happen sooner than all of that. That casts some doubts about the Texans as a landing spot, even during the 2027 offseason cycle.
Still, it is a striking reality about where things stand for Stroud and the Texans.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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