Ohio State QB CJ Stroud Enters 2023 NFL Draft As A Strong Contender For The QB1 Title
CJ Stroud is one of the best QBs available in the 2023 NFL Draft. While I personally have Bryce Young over the Ohio State signal-caller, some mock drafts have him going over Young for the first pick in this year’s draft. Can Stroud make it a battle for the QB1 mantle, or will he end up behind Young in the draft?
CJ Stroud enters the 2023 NFL Draft as one of the best QB prospects in a long time. After starting for two seasons at Ohio State, the Buckeye QB will most likely declare for the 2023 NFL Draft, where he will be taken early on day one. As the starter, Stroud threw for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns in 2021 and 3,688 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2022.
Both seasons were not considered successful by Ohio State fans, as the Buckeyes were unable to beat Michigan in either season, and recently lost to Georgia in the College Football Playoff in the final seconds. Add in that the powerhouse program failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2021 and that makes for some hostile emotions from the fanbase.
Strength: Arm/Mobility
A lot of what I love about CJ Stroud is that he is a great arm. While he might suffer from spotty accuracy at times, his arm certainly contains a lot of power. That is a trait which cannot be taught at the next level. Additionally, when the pocket breaks, Stroud possesses the ability to get out of the pocket and move with his legs.
Stroud’s mobility was displayed in the semifinal game against Georgia on multiple occasions. Going into the NFL, defensive coordinators will need to keep a middle linebacker or have the edges play contain if they hope to keep Stroud in the pocket.
Weakness: Inconsistent Accuracy/Stacked Supporting Cast
The biggest weakness I see with CJ Stroud is the fact that his accuracy sometimes isn’t there. An example of this is some throws from the Notre Dame game that can be seen in this clip. In the NFL, you have to throw the ball at the right time with the right strength. He has the strength; the question is, can he work on his accuracy/timing of the pass?
One weakness noticed by a lot of NFL Draft scouts is that Ohio State was loaded on offense this season. They were especially loaded on the offensive line and in the wide receiver corps. Paris Johnson Jr. will be one of the top linemen selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, and Marvin Harrison Jr. will be a top pick in 2024 when he becomes eligible.
While this is not a major weakness in his game itself, it must be noted that Ohio State was very talented this season, and whatever team CJ Stroud gets drafted by will likely not give him the same amount of time in the pocket as he had at Ohio State.
2023 NFL Draft Projection for Ohio State QB CJ Stroud:
•Top-Five Overall
As of right now, and as others do, I have Bryce Young going No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans, assuming they maintain their position in the draft order. With the Bears most likely picking second, I see them taking Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter. Having Justin Fields gives Chicago the freedom to add a blue-chip player on defense, rather than looking at QBs.
I could see a team trading up to get CJ Stroud at the No. 3 overall pick. With one game left until the season is over, the Colts trading up or “moving up” two spots in the last game of the season is a strong possibility. The Raiders are another option, but Las Vegas would probably have to find a way to trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Another option is Seattle. The Seahawks might be unenthused by the idea of rolling with Geno Smith at QB going forward. Although it makes sense, I don’t really see that happening unless Smith leaves in free agency. A QB-needy team could offer him a lucrative deal elsewhere and that would leave the Seahawks without a QB, opening the door for a Stroud selection.
When it comes to the Raiders, it comes down to whether the team wants to trade that much capital to get Stroud, as they probably do not have a top-five pick (currently holds the sixth-worst record in the league). I could also see Carolina as they should look for an upgrade over Sam Darnold. As stated, there is still one game left in the season for each team, so the standings will change.
Still, I expect CJ Stroud to be an early pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, no matter what happens with the draft order. The Ohio State star has too much talent and potential at a very impactful position, and a team will trade up for him if he slips down the board.