2023 NFL draft: C.J. Stroud scouting report
One of the most prolific passers in all of college football last season, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud brings a polished, pro-ready skill set to the game’s most important position.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Buckeyes’ signal-caller:
Vitals
Height: 6-3
Weight: 218
Class: Junior
Strengths
One of the most efficient passers in this class, particularly from the pocket, Stroud is able to diagnose what a defense puts in front of him, and deliver the football with great touch and accuracy. His mechanics are polished, as well, showing great improvement since his first start, and a high understanding of the fundamentals of playing the position.
He has the prototypical frame for the position, and possesses enough arm strength to be successful at the NFL level.
While not known as much for his athleticism, Stroud’s mobility was on display in his final two games, where he showed an excellent ability to extend plays and throw the ball off-platform to make big gains down the field.
Stroud’s fundamental understanding of the position and what is in front of him, combined with his accuracy, allowed him to have two of the most productive seasons of any quarterback in the country, tossing 85 touchdowns to just 12 picks over the last two seasons.
Weaknesses
As noted earlier, Stroud didn’t make regular use of his athleticism to extend and make plays outside the pocket or avoid sacks, and was largely flat when faced with pressure off the ball. His final game against Georgia showed a flash of what is possible, but we can’t ignore two seasons of tape for one game, and it will need to be addressed at the next level.
He’ll need to build upon what he has already shown and perfect his pocket awareness if he wants to succeed in the pros, as he’s not likely to have the luxury of hanging back in a super-clean pocket in the NFL, and he’ll need to adjust quickly to avoid it becoming a pitfall for his career.
Projection
The way Stroud is able to direct an offense and diagnose defenses at such a high level immediately puts him in the conversation as one of this year’s top quarterback prospects. He’ll come in from Day 1 and put in the work to be able to carry over his success from college.
His prototypical size, arm strength, and growth, including his final game where he showed off outside-the-pocket ball skills, will give teams faith that he can can answer any questions they have about his ability to play at a high level. With more development and experience, Stroud could quickly become a difference-maker at the game’s most important position.
