For quite a while, the Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young has been considered by many in the NFL circles to be the top quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft class. But after the Carolina Panthers landed the top overall pick by way of a trade with the Chicago Bears, another quarterback has emerged as the likely top pick in the draft: Ohio State Buckeyes star C.J. Stroud.
As Ohio State beat writer Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors points out, the vast majority of mock drafts across the country now include CJ Stroud as the projected No. 1 overall pick based on the belief that the Panthers traded up to draft him.
“That belief is reflected by the many mock drafts that have been released over the past four days since that draft-altering deal,” Hope wrote for Eleven Warriors on Tuesday morning. “Among 22 mock drafts we compiled that have been published or updated by media outlets that cover the NFL draft since Friday night’s trade, 15 of them have Stroud going with the No. 1 overall pick – which would make him the fourth No. 1 overall pick in Ohio State history along with Tom Cousineau, Dan Wilkinson and Orlando Pace.”
Obviously, this won’t be official until the Panthers make their decision on draft night, but it’s looking like Stroud – not Young – will be the No. 1 overall pick.
