C.J. Stroud (QB) – Ohio State / Junior
6’3” / 214.0 lbs (Official)
2021 Stats: PASSING – 12 games, 317 completions, 441 attempts, 77.9 completion percentage, 4435 yards, 10.1 yards per attempt, 44 touchdowns, 6 interceptions. RUSHING – 32 attempts, -20 yards, -0.6 yards per run, 0 touchdowns.
2022 Stats:PASSING – 13 games, 258 completions, 389 attempts, 66.3 completion percentage, 3688 yards, 9.5 yards per attempt, 41 touchdowns, 6 interceptions. RUSHING – 47 attempts, 108 yards, 2.3 yards per run, 0 touchdowns
{Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/cj-stroud-1.html}
Awards:
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022)
- Finalist for two major awards
- Ohio State Team Captain
Measurables: Arm – 32-⅝”, Hands – 10”; Wingspan – ?? (Combine)
Games Watched: [Joe] 2022 @ Georgia, 2022 vs. Michigan, 2022 Georgia (Bowl game). [Efram] 2022 @ Michigan, 2022 vs Georgia (Playoffs), 2022 vs Iowa, 2022 vs Wisconsin.
PRO’S
[Efram] Stroud has prototypical size and should be able to withstand NFL hits. He has capable athleticism to evade rushers while also brushing off blitzers. Stroud’s best selling point is his accuracy. He can hit throws anywhere on the field with near perfect ball placement. Given a clean pocket, Stroud made pinpoint throws while properly layering pretty moon balls on deep attempts. He consistently hits receivers in stride and hits all the expected throws of a NFL QB. Stroud stepped up in his playoff game against Georgia, extending plays and weaponizing his athletic traits- something that scouts wanted to see more out of him. He is the best pure pocket passer in the draft, and is the perfect fit for a play-action spread offense.
[Joe] Stroud has 1) a strong arm, and 2) his good, consistent ability to make accurate off-platform throws, accurate throws on the runs, and throws from different arm angles with accuracy. He can dart the ball in tight windows, again highlighting his accuracy. While Stroud does not appear to be a high end scrambler that NFL GMs covet these days, he has good pocket presence – Stroud is a good pocket manipulator and buys time with quickness and good lateral movement, so he’s not a statue either. I do believe he has decent enough speed to get more yards on the ground, if he needs to when plays break down, but he just chooses not to run but rather get the ball into the hands of his playmakers. He makes his reads, and makes them quickly, and has great timing on timing routes.
CON’S
[Efram] C.J. Stroud struggled to perform under pressure most of the season, grading a disastrous 42.0 grade (PFF). He isn’t a natural play extender and is indecisive as a runner, two traits that have become extremely valuable in the modern league. His technique slightly breaks down while on the run, leading Stroud to rush some throws which hurts his accuracy. There weren’t many big weaknesses in his game, but it was easy as an Ohio State QB, with multiple first rounders on the roster. Stroud had tons of time to throw with receivers who were consistently open, advantages he won’t have as a rookie on a bad team.
[Joe] Really not much to pick at. He could be more consistent with passes, but QBs can improve on that. The real question, for me at least, is given how NFL-caliber talent he was surrounded with at Ohio State, will he be able to be that same special QB when that’s not the situation (at least early in his career) on a team taking him high in the 1st round? Not huge for an NFL QB at 6’3″ and 215 lbs…but not small either.
OVERALL
[Efram] Stroud both benefited and suffered from being cast as Ohio State’s Quarterback. He did everything asked of him, but was rarely put in difficult situations. This makes it harder to project Stroud to the next level, as he will likely go to a team with significantly worse weapons and Oline. If he is drafted to a team with a solid supporting cast, Stroud can step in right away and deliver as a pocket passer. Drafting Stroud to be a “hero” QB is the wrong move, and he may struggle to carry an offense on his shoulders. Stroud has the talents to grow into a Top 10/15 Quarterback, right in the range of Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins. His floor is higher than both Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, but he lacks the game changing traits that give both those prospects elite ceilings.
[Joe] I get uncertain when reviewing, studying, and projecting QBs more than any position, and Ohio State QBs make me very uncertain given the amount of future NFL offensive studs surrounding that school’s quarterbacks, but Stroud’s excellent 4 TD / 0 INT performance against the Georgia Bulldogs’ defense – which may be better than some NFL defenses – in the recent Bowl game loss sealed the deal for me on Stroud. Stroud should, in my opinion, go #1 overall to the Houston Texans (or whomever winds up with the 1st overall pick), and he should develop into a fine, top caliber, NFL QB. I only pray that whoever picks him, as with any young QB, that they surround him with teachers who know what they’re doing, an OL, and weapons. Stroud is an NFL QB waiting to be made (as long as he’s not undermined by horrible coaching, too much of which exists).
Completed by: Joe Knows (@JoeJ_Clark), 01/06/23; updated 03/04/23
Added to: Efram (@Mr1rrelevant), 03/04/23
