Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young might be considered the top quarterback in the draft, but one prominent draft analyst doesn’t think Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud is all that much of a drop-off in talent.
This week, Daniel Jeremiah was asked about the possibility of a team drafting C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick instead of trading up for the No. 1 pick to select Young.
“I would be fine with it,” Jeremiah said. “I like Bryce Young better on the tape but I think CJ Stroud is a really good player. If you’re not comfortable with that price to go up to get to that No. 1 pick? Stay where you are and get CJ Stroud? I would feel just fine about that.”
“I think he is just a pure thrower. The big question with him was, okay, not a lot of off-schedule, not a lot of playmaking. But then all of a sudden you see the semifinal game and you are like, dude, where has this been? He showed you he has that ability,” said Jeremiah. “The old scouting adage is if you can do it once, you can do it. So you know he does have that ability.”
Jeremiah thinks Young is “a little bit more of a playmaker,” but still likes Stroud a lot.
“I think Bryce is just a little bit more of a playmaker to me consistently when you watch him,” Jeremiah said. “I just love his instincts and feel, his ability to maneuver within the pocket I think is better. So I think Bryce Young is a better player. But I would not be totally bummed if you sat there at No. 2 and ended up with CJ Stroud.”
[NFL]
