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ITL explores the fallout of a hypothetical Stroud-Texans split.
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00:00I don't know if you're seeing kind of the conversation that's happening on Texas Twitter right now.
00:04There's a lot of people up in arms about the possibility of what you do if C.J. Stroud is
00:11not,
00:11like if there is a parting of ways that ultimately happens.
00:14This was a conversation that came up on a podcast that I was actually on on Monday.
00:19And the conversation stemmed from the idea of, okay, but let's even go to the eventuality.
00:25Let's get into the end game.
00:26Worst case scenario.
00:27Worst case scenario, the decision has been made that C.J. Stroud, you'll move on from him.
00:31How do you even go about trying to replace him?
00:35And so people start, you know, there are things thrown out.
00:38And the idea is like, all right, who are the quarterbacks that might be available?
00:41Someone like even a Baker Mayfield.
00:43And people are really wringing their hands about that.
00:46How does that hit you?
00:47Because I know Baker Mayfield right now is in the public eye.
00:50Yeah, there's some contract stuff going on.
00:52Because he and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are kind of at an impasse when it comes to contracts.
00:56To the point where Baker Mayfield rather himself has said that the idea of an extension is far away.
01:06Right?
01:06It's nowhere near close.
01:07Not anywhere close is the words that he used.
01:08And he won't negotiate once training can't begin.
01:11And so like this is going to be another season where Baker Mayfield doesn't get a negotiation.
01:15And maybe he ends up in the offseason as a very gettable piece.
01:19Yeah.
01:20But obviously, like, this is a little bit of a Rorschach test on how you feel about C.J. Stroud.
01:25Because I think there's a lot of people within the fan base that goes, so why would you even do
01:29that?
01:29Why would that even be a consideration?
01:31Even if you had decided that C.J. Stroud was not the way that you go.
01:35Look, I think, I actually think, and this isn't necessarily, you know, something that I've been told.
01:41It's just something you kind of feel and understand as you're around, you know, the team and people around the
01:46team.
01:47I feel like there's a real, there's a real sentiment that they would kind of like to have a guy
01:56that is not, you know, flashy per se or the big time.
02:00I think there's a, there's a sentiment that they.
02:03Someone who's a little workmanlike, I guess, for lack of a better word of saying it.
02:05Davis Mills.
02:07I think there's, there's a, there's a sentiment in that building.
02:10Now, they may be dead wrong, and I think they are, but that says, for what we want to do,
02:17you know, for how we want to play, Davis Mills might be the better, the better fit.
02:22So I'm thinking, the reason I bring that up is because that's the, that's the template.
02:25That's the, you know, the character of type that you want in this offense if they're going to continue to
02:31do this.
02:32Right.
02:32So something, either him or development of someone like him or another quarterback like him.
02:36I don't think Baker Mayfield is any, any part of that.
02:38Yeah, it feels like there's, there's three, three lanes of options.
02:41Again, this is in the eventuality that things, you know, worst case scenario has happened with all, which I don't
02:46feel like that's the case.
02:47And it already feels like the early arrow is pointing away from that.
02:51Right.
02:52I'm going to make it clear as we have this conversation.
02:54But like, if you're in a worst case scenario and you're going to move on from CJ Stroud, I imagine
02:58that's a trade scenario where you're bringing stuff in.
03:00I think there's three options.
03:01One, you swing for the fences and see if you can go poach someone like a Joe Burrow.
03:06So, is there a possibility that like Lamar Jackson might be available?
03:09Right.
03:10Is, is there, is it, does it come to a head with someone like a Josh Allen right there where
03:15he, he becomes disinterested or, or, you know, disillusioned there.
03:18That's like the highest minded of the shots.
03:20It just feels very unlikely if that's the way that you go, especially when you consider all the ways, all
03:25the dudes that you've paid.
03:25Right.
03:26You look like you want to say something about this.
03:27I'm just thinking about that.
03:29Like, I, I, I agree with Reggie.
03:30I think that's the unlikely part of it, but I think the more likely is we got somebody here.
03:36Yeah.
03:37That's a, that's even a fourth option that I wasn't considering, right?
03:39The idea that Davis Mills, you just go, Hey, we're handing this over to you.
03:43We know that it's a lower level of, of play, but we, that we think it's steady enough and go
03:47with that.
03:48I think another option that's there is probably the one that fits in with the Baker Mayfield line of thought
03:52is can you get another guy who is somewhere in that just capable starter range that you're definitely not paying
03:58to the heights of, you know, on that super high second deal, but you're paying, you know, like a starting
04:03quarterback in the league and you hope that he comes in and gives you starting quality quarterback quality.
04:08I think if you move away from CJ Stroud, the fourth option that I'm going to put is the one
04:12that you would do, which is at that point, you, you take what you have gotten in whatever trade that
04:17you would have been done to send CJ Stroud away.
04:19You package that up and in a draft class where you're, it's supposedly a more robust quarterback draft class.
04:25You go and get a next guy.
04:26If for no other reason, then you are playing a style that is supposed to be defense and running forward,
04:32not to say you don't need a quarterback to execute clearly.
04:35Absolutely.
04:35You do.
04:35But the idea is that this is a little bit lessened the, the amount of, or like the, the, the
04:41barrier for entry for the quarterback.
04:43And the biggest thing is the whole conversation is salary cap circumstances.
04:47You'll be playing with the rookie, rookie contract there.
04:50And I think that that would be the whole swing there, right?
04:54Like you get the benefit of rookie contract in that circumstance.
04:56But I, but I think that ties in with, with what I'm, I'm believe I'm like, say again, again, it's
05:01not like I've heard this or that.
05:03You just kind of catch a vibe.
05:04I think that ties in with the win now window tells you, you need a veteran, you know, you need,
05:10you need somebody smart that knows the offense.
05:12That's, that's been, so I think you, you prefer probably Davis mills and with those assets, go get the next
05:19Davis mill in Davis mills, but better.
05:22Okay.
05:22So of the four options that we laid out there again, in the eventuality that everything goes horribly, horribly, terribly
05:28wrong.
05:29CJ shroud is no longer the quarterback that they, that this Texas team wants.
05:32How many of those seem like ones that you'd be okay with Joe Burrow, just, just, just that, just that
05:38highest level, not even, not even Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen to be really well for look, let's look, how's
05:44this office going to suit them?
05:45Now I know they have more swag and then they've got more pelts on the wall, but if this is
05:49what they want to do, this is, you know, run the ball.
05:52We heard the coordinator yesterday, you know, what about those explosive plays?
05:56Well, you know, catch and run, you know, that's basically what he said.
06:00Joe Burrow is the only fit of the, of the elites.
06:03Yeah.
06:03He's the only one.
06:04You're not going to tell me Lamar Jackson in this offense.
06:07I just want to see Lamar Jackson.
06:08Well, we all do.
06:09You tell me Josh Allen in this offense.
06:11They bent on not changing the offense, but Nick Casario's offense is what they want to run.
06:18Then they're not going to change it.
06:19The only one that of the superstars, Joe Burrow.
06:22And so my, I think the larger point of the experiment that's supposed to come out is there's not a
06:27really, there's not a lot of really good ways to get better than CJ Stroud or get an answer on
06:33the other side of it.
06:34And that kind of is the, is the impetus for the thought process is like, okay, what are you actually
06:38doing if you get to that place?
06:39Now, if you get to that place, you will have to answer that.
06:42But these are things that also help you decide how you make those decisions with CJ Stroud going forward.
06:47But yeah, I thought it was, I thought it was interesting.
06:49And I know that it's a nasty conversation.
06:51It's a nasty, I feel dirty.
06:53I get it.
06:53No, I get it.
06:54I get it.
06:55But we here, man.
06:56And that's what Texans Twitter is talking about, huh?
06:58Yeah.
06:59It's a Friday.
06:59Friday in early June, baby.
07:01You know what?
07:02I mean, it's not unfair.
07:03You know, we don't know how it's going to play out.
07:05No, I get it.
07:06Nobody's predicting it.
07:07I totally get it.
07:08But man, I never thought we had this conversation.
07:11It's early like this.
07:12This is where we are.
07:13And we're also early on this conversation right now.
07:16But as you're like thinking ahead and with clearly this being a year that has some level of, you know,
07:23some level of I'm going to use this as a litmus test for, right?
07:27Okay.
07:27What is on the other side of that litmus test?
07:29Think of the eventualities of what could possibly be there and help that, allow that to, you know, add into
07:34your decision-making matrix.
07:36I think that that is 100% fair to think about what are the answers on the other side of
07:40this decision if you do indeed make it.
07:42You know what I mean?
07:42And even if that decision is still at least a year away.
07:45No, I will say the team is totally, I mean, outside of that position, I feel like the team is
07:50pretty much together where they hook somebody in.
07:53Yeah.
07:54Why is it so hard for people to listen to us?
07:56Why?
07:56Were they so many?
07:57Three, four, six.
07:57Y'all sound like chuckleheads.
07:59They're not getting rid of CJ.
08:00Y'all are giving up on CJ.
08:01All these.
08:01What are you?
08:02Like, did you not hear any of the qualifiers?
08:04Maybe he just tapped in or something.
08:06Maybe he just tapped in the last 30 seconds.
08:08I just qualified a second ago.
08:09He's a hater.
08:10I just qualified a second ago.
08:12He's one of those guys.
08:13Or girls.
08:14Oh, look at you being inclusive.
08:16I'm very proud of you.
08:17I am.
08:18I am inclusive.
08:22So, yeah.
08:23Okay.
08:23But, yeah.
08:24That is the conversation that's there.
08:26And, honestly, I'm surprised that some people are finding it such a difficult circumstance that there's a possibility they can
08:32move on from CJ.
08:33I don't think it's likely.
08:35I still think that CJ Stroud is a good quarterback.
08:37We've seen the capabilities of what he can do.
08:40Even if you go into the depths of what he did this last season.
08:42Even if it does not feel like it was incredible.
08:45He was a pretty damn good quarterback.
08:55Yeah.
08:56Do you think he's going to ever get into training camp?
09:00If it gets a little later.
09:02Contract's still not.
09:03Because I guess it's still possible he gets a contract.
09:05Yeah.
09:06I guess it is.
09:07Yeah.
09:07But it gets into training camp.
09:09He's going to mention it?
09:11I think there is.
09:12Really?
09:13Oh, yeah.
09:13Yeah.
09:14This is a conversation that we were having when he first steps up to the podium at OTAs.
09:18And he says that, you know.
09:19Leave it up to my agent.
09:19Leave it up to my agent.
09:20I believe him in that.
09:22He held his bargain up.
09:23His edge of the bargain.
09:24And I go back to J.J. Watt, who was much more beloved, much more proven, much more everything.
09:29When it wasn't until training camp, he kept saying this.
09:33Well, it'll take care of itself, et cetera.
09:35His first big, you know, contract.
09:37And then middle of training camp, he finally went, ah, commercials only pay so much.
09:42I think that was his line.
09:44I think that's the line that J.J. used.
09:46And I can see it happening.
09:48Yeah.
09:48And, look, they're putting together one of the best circumstances that they have for the Texans when it comes to
09:54circumstances around him.
09:55I think that there's easily the point that you could take where C.J. Stroud goes, I know I'm going
10:01to ball out.
10:02Yeah.
10:02And I'm just going to be able to rake them over the coals, so to say, when it comes to
10:06the contract conversation on the backside of what is going to be an incredible.
10:10No, there is a payback here.
10:11Like, if it happens in such a way where, you know, he has no control of it.
10:15They don't offer, you know, what he wants.
10:17They can't accept what they offer, if they do offer anything.
10:20Where if he balls out, he's going to say, all right, let's start at 60.
10:24And at that point.
10:25And he would have all.
10:26Entirely justified.
10:27That's the whole Jerry Jones thing.
10:29You know why we're starting?
10:30We're starting at 60 is where we're starting.
10:32I played the game last year.
10:33You know what?
10:34I'm feeling 65-ish.
10:36What y'all think?
10:38It feels like.
10:40I'm feeling 67-ish.
10:42Coming to America, it's like, why not go for a cool million?
10:44Why not go for a cool 65?
10:46Why not?
10:47No.
10:47Sure, why not?
10:48And he will have earned it.
10:49That's right.
10:49He will have earned it.
10:50You know, he had to put up with, you know, kind of playing the slow game and not getting
10:55the deal, you know, and then he shows up.
10:57All right.
10:57We're starting at 60, man.
10:59That's where we're starting.
11:01That's where we're starting.
11:01That's where we're starting.
11:01That's where we're starting.
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