The 2023 NFL Draft order is nearly complete, with two rounds remaining in the playoffs. ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his NFL Mock Draft 1.0 on Wednesday, revealing a surprising choice for his first quarterback selection.
Kiper mocks Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud to Houston with the second overall pick and as the first signal-caller to go off the board. Stroud, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, is the third-ranked QB in the draft guru’s positional rankings behind Kentucky’s Will Levis and Alabama’s Bryce Young.
Appearing on “Get Up” Wednesday, Kiper said Stroud’s size, accuracy, and consistency were the factors that gave him the edge over Levis and Young.
In two seasons as Ohio State’s starter, Stroud threw for 8,123 yards, 85 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, completing 69.3% of his passes. His stellar performance against Georgia in the College Football Playoff semifinal (348 yards, four TDs) has reportedly resonated well in NFL circles.
While Stroud had an impressive college career, scouts must determine if he was a product of his environment. The wide receiver room during his time in Columbus was easily the best in the country.
The Buckeyes finished 21-4 with Stroud in charge, but half of those losses came against rival Michigan. In 2021, he became the first Ohio State QB to lose “The Big Game” since Braxton Miller a decade prior.
There’s no guarantee Stroud will land in Houston or be the first quarterback selected; ultimately, the Chicago Bears hold control of the draft for now. Chicago seems to have a franchise QB in Justin Fields, so it’s expected to trade out of the top spot in the draft to stockpile assets.
Young is favored to be the first overall pick by Oddschecker due to the possibility that there could be a trade; if that happens, Stroud could still end up in Houston.
The QB rankings should be more precise after the NFL Combine concludes. Players begin arriving in Indianapolis for the combine on Feb. 26. The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft begins on April 27 in Kansas City.
