Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud entered the 2022 college football season as a consensus top quarterback should he decide to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft following the season.
Stroud‘s play, especially in a gritty Peach Bowl loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, did nothing to dissuade draftniks of that notion.
But while Stroud’s declaration for draft seemed like a foregone conclusion, rumors have swirled in Columbus for weeks that Stroud will in fact return to Ohio State as long as the NIL and insurance numbers are right.
Twitter was quick to react to the potential bombshell revelation:
The delay in C.J. Stroud's NFL draft decision is not without recent precedent for an Ohio State quarterback. Justin Fields waited until the day of the declaration deadline for underclassmen in 2021 before announcing he was turning pro.
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) January 16, 2023
“The delay in C.J. Stroud’s NFL draft decision is not without recent precedent for an Ohio State quarterback. Justin Fields waited until the day of the declaration deadline for underclassmen in 2021 before announcing he was turning pro,” Joey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch wrote.
If C.J. Stroud returns to Ohio State…there’s so many nationwide storylines in most, if not all the major conferences.
The 2023-24 season will surely be one to remember.
— Andrew Hammond (@ahammALDC) January 16, 2023
“If C.J. Stroud returns to Ohio State…there’s so many nationwide storylines in most, if not all the major conferences. The 2023-24 season will surely be one to remember,” Andrew Hammond wrote.
Comprehensive review of #Bucks fans (very) small hope. @nwbaird is skeptical. But if C.J. Stroud is indeed thinking of coming back, he should or regrets forever. Insurance exists for injury NIL means some money, v. the last of his career money. https://t.co/K7qkYr1G5A
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) January 16, 2023
“Comprehensive review of #Bucks fans (very) small hope. @nwbaird is skeptical. But if C.J. Stroud is indeed thinking of coming back, he should or regrets forever. Insurance exists for injury NIL means some money, v. the last of his career money,” Hugh Hewitt of Fox News wrote.
Part of me wonders if CJ Stroud will return to Ohio State off the heels of an impressive game vs. Georgia. Go beat Michigan, win a National Championship, a Heisman Trophy and then go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in 2024.
It's also possible he goes Top 10 if he declares today.
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) January 14, 2023
“Part of me wonders if CJ Stroud will return to Ohio State off the heels of an impressive game vs. Georgia. Go beat Michigan, win a National Championship, a Heisman Trophy and then go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft in 2024. It’s also possible he goes Top 10 if he declares today,” Nick Camino wrote.
With whispers of C.J. Stroud returning for NIL $, here's the signing bonuses by pick # from 2022
1: $24.3m
5: $19.9m
10: $12.1m
20: $7.4m
33: $3.9m
50: $2.3mHard to see the $ being close if he's a top-10 pick and doubt he'd go any higher in next year's loaded QB class
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) January 13, 2023
“Hard to see the $ being close if he’s a top-10 pick and doubt he’d go any higher in next year’s loaded QB class,” wrote Mike Renner of Pro Football Talk.
Stroud, for the record, has yet to officially announce his draft decision.
