NFL Draft: 5 best quarterbacks available in 2023
By KC Proctor
2. CJ Stroud, Ohio State
Another massively hyped-up Ohio State quarterback prospect, CJ Stroud brings to the table the best fundamentals in this quarterback class. He has the cleanest tape of any prospect that you’ll find and he is never afraid to make the big-time throw. He throws a clean ball with Big Ten-leading accuracy (69.1 career completion percentage). He doesn’t have the best arm strength in the bunch, but he has a strong, balanced base and the best pocket presence of all his colleagues. Stroud has some apparent struggles that he’ll have to clean up to succeed at the next level, most notably his footwork, but his physical profile is so impressive that he is a lock for a top-five pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Beyond passing the eye test with flying colors, walking in a 6-foot-3 and 215-pound frame, Stroud appears to have the x-factor between his ears that NFL GMs and head coaches constantly search for. Go back to watch his effort against the Georgia Bulldogs in The Peach Bowl and you’ll see exactly what I mean. Georgia’s national champion offense dominated the fourth quarter and overcame a deficit to beat the Buckeyes, but Stroud was relentless in making big throws and setting the pace of the game. He finished the night 23-of-34 with 348 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was one of the gutsiest performances in the history of college football and was sure to win over at least one NFL front office.
CJ Stroud could certainly be the first quarterback off the board in April. He is second on this list for the track record of previously inflated OSU quarterbacks in the league, and the distance between him and Bryce Young athletically.