Will C.J. Stroud be the first QB taken in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Heading into the 2022 college football season, the cream of the crop at quarterback were Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. As the season went on, both guys did slightly regress, but it was felt more by the Buckeyes’ signal caller. However, Stroud played arguably his best game of the year in the Peach Bowl against the second-best defense in the nation: the Georgia Bulldogs. This may have done enough in this writer’s eyes to possibly revive his draft stock, but to others, his performance did more than that, which might have a direct effect on the 2023 NFL Draft.
There are reports coming out that Stroud has a chance to be the first quarterback taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, ahead of Young and Will Levis from Kentucky. Evidently, there are some NFL scouts who view Stroud as a better overall prospect than Young, with the former having a chance to go No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans.
Let’s compare their seasons.
- Bryce Young
- 3,328 yards
- 32 touchdowns to five interceptions
- 86.1 QBR
- C.J. Stroud
- 3,688 yards
- 41 touchdowns to six interceptions
- 88.8 QBR
Two important takeaways from looking at the stats alone are that there is a significant gap in touchdowns thrown and Stroud holds a higher QBR — which finished second in the country. However, you would be remiss if you did not take into consideration that Northwestern game, which was the worst game of the year for Stroud. Young also moves better outside the pocket, outpacing Stroud on the ground 185 to 108.
Both guys have clear strengths in their game, but, in early January, it does seem interesting that Stroud could be the QB1 in this class.
Regardless, there is so much time between now and when the card has to be turned in for the 2023 NFL Draft. We have the NFL Scouting Combine plus the Alabama and Ohio State pro days, both of which will be huge showcases for both guys. C.J. Stroud clearly has the most to gain from this process, and if he performs as he did against Georgia, he just might make a case.
A poll taken in August of 2022 showed that Stroud received five votes from people at ESPN as the top QB in the class, and if he continues this level of play, he could make the quintet like geniuses.
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