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2023 NFL Draft: 5 Players to Watch from the Big Ten During the 2022 Season

By Kyle Edmond

COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 20: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes drops back to pass during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 20: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes drops back to pass during the first half of a game against the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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2023 NFL Draft: 5 Players to Watch from the Big Ten During the 2022 Season

The Big Ten Conference tallied the second-most draftees in the 2022 NFL Draft and the 2023 NFL Draft class shouldn’t be much different. With 48 players coming from the Big Ten, only the SEC produced more players to be selected. Of those 48, Penn State led the way with eight players selected with Ohio State (6), Michigan (5) and Wisconsin (5) close behind. The only Big Ten team that didn’t have a player selected was Northwestern, but they could contend to have the first player off the board from the Big Ten in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Big Ten will be one of the first conferences in action for the 2022 season, sending Northwestern and Nebraska to Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 27 to help usher in the new season. With the season rapidly approaching, what players should NFL fans have their eyes on for the 2023 NFL Draft?

2023 NFL Draft Big Ten Prospect #1: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Mixed in with the top quarterbacks of the 2023 NFL Draft is C.J. Stroud. A Heisman Trophy finalist just a season ago, Stroud is entering his third season as a Buckeye and his second as the starter. It was an impressive 2021 campaign for Stroud, throwing 44 touchdowns with just six interceptions and he’ll look to build on that in the upcoming season. After a lackluster quarterback class in 2022, the 2023 NFL Draft will have plenty of quarterback-needy teams. That will increase the already-high value of quarterbacks in the draft and a strong season from Stroud could propel him into the top pick conversation.

For Stroud, it will be tough to improve upon last season. Beyond the aforementioned touchdowns and interceptions, he also totaled over 4,400 passing yards with a completion percentage just shy of 72%. If Stroud wants to make waves, showcasing more mobility could be the key. The passing talent is there, but with an ever-changing NFL that likes to see quarterback mobility, Stroud could benefit from more production on the ground.

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