NFL

C.J. Stroud NFL Draft Profile – Will he slide down the board?

April 27, 2023 7:58 am
C.J. Stroud NFL Draft Profile – Will he slide down the board?
Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS/ABACAPRESS.COM Photo by Icon sport

C.J. Stroud broke many records at Ohio State and will likely be selected in the top 10 during the first round of Thursday’s 2023 NFL Draft.

The quarterback was once tipped to go first overall by bookmakers but is now predicted to be the third signal caller drafted behind Alabama’s Bryce Young and Kentucky’s Will Levis.

C.J. Stroud Draft Profile

  • Position: Quarterback
  • Age: 23
  • Hometown: Inland Empire, CA
  • Class: R-Sophomore
  • Height: 6’3”
  • Weight: 214 lbs
  • Arm: 32 5/8”
  • Hand: 10’’
  • Wingspan: 77 3/8”
  • 40-yard dash: 4.74 seconds

NFL Combine

Stroud participated in the NFL Combine and was graded a 97 for his production making him the No. 2 highest-rated quarterback in the category. The 21-year-old received a total score of 85, ranking him third in his position overall.

On the S2 Cognition Test (replaced the Wonderlic), the dual-threat passer struggled and scored 18 out of 99. Fellow top quarterback prospects in the draft, Young and Levis, recorded scores of 98 and 93. The exam was designed to determine how well a player processes data.

When asked about his score on the S2, Stroud stated “I’m not a test taker, I play football” and went on to say he has “nothing to prove to anybody.”

Stroud received a 6.70 rating at the combine which is deemed “year 1 starter”. He’s drawn comparisons to Justin Herbert with his play style and prototypical build.

C.J. Stroud College Career

As a starter, the Rancho Cucamonga native held a 21-4 record and guided Ohio State to two College Football Playoff semifinals.

He boasts a number of Buckeye records, including the most passing yards in a single game (573), as well as the distinction of being the first player to throw for six touchdowns three times.

Stroud placed third and fourth in Heisman Trophy voting the past two seasons and was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year after each of them.

In 2022, Stroud threw the second-most touchdown passes (41) in the FBS compared to just six interceptions and a year prior, recorded 44 (third in the nation). He’s the only player in Big Ten history to have back-to-back campaigns with 30 or more touchdown passes.

The 6-foot-4, 214-pounder also topped the FBS in pass efficiency (177.7) during his final year at the university.

Awards

2021

  • Heisman Trophy finalist 
  • Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year
  • Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year
  • Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year
  • First-team All-Big Ten 
  • Big Ten Freshman of the Week (x7) 
  • Offensive Player of the Week (x2)

2022

  • Heisman Trophy finalist
  • Big Ten’s Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year
  • Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year
  • First-team All-Big Ten
  • Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (x2)

Background

At Rancho Cucamonga High School (2016-2020), Stroud was a five-star recruit and passed for 6,569 yards, 70 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Projected Pick/Landing Spot: No. 4 to Indianapolis

Oddsmakers at William Hill Sportsbook have Stroud at a line of 2/1 (+200) to be selected by the Colts with the fourth overall pick.

A month ago, the dual-threat passer was the favorite on many sportsbooks at -190 to be the top overall pick. His odds likely shifted due to a low S2 Cognition Test score, his choice to skip a scheduled appearance at the Manning Academy as well as his performance during predraft interviews.

Young is almost a lock (-1000) to be taken first. If Levis goes second to Houston, Stroud will probably fall to a quarterback-needy Indianapolis at No. 4.

If the Texans select a defensive player, there’s a chance Levis will be taken by the Colts, causing Stroud to tumble down between picks five through 10. There’s still a slight possibility (+350, 22.22% implied odds) Houston takes him at No. 2.

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