Analyst: OSU’S Stroud could go No. 1 in draft

At least one analyst says C.J. Stroud could go No. 1 in the 2023 NFL draft.

CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli predicts the Ohio State quarterback will be the first overall selection by the Indianapolis Colts, which he has trading up to acquire the Chicago Bears’ pick.

“There is no obvious No. 1 QB in this class,” Fornelli writes, “but based on the Colts’ prior choices at QB, I have a hard time believing they’d go for the smaller Bryce Young. Stroud has his weak spots, but his performance against Georgia in a loss may have been the most impressive of his career, and there’s no doubting his decision-making and accuracy in a clean pocket.”

While Ohio State has had four topthree selections since 2016 in defensive end Joey Bosa (No. 3 in 2016), defensive end Nick Bosa (No. 2 in 2019), defensive end Chase Young (No. 2 in 2020) and cornerback Jeff Okudah (No. 3 in 2020), Stroud would be the Buckeyes’ first No. 1 overall pick since offensive tackle Orlando Pace was taken by the St. Louis Rams in 1997.

Defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson and linebacker Tom Cousineau are Ohio State’s other first-overall selections from the 1994 and 1979 drafts, respectively.

In two seasons as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Stroud, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, threw for 8,123 passing yards, 85 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Fornelli also projects two other OSU players to go in the first round.

He has the Tennessee Titans selecting offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. at No. 11, saying he has the potential to be “a cornerstone left tackle.”

And Jaxon Smith-nigba will end up a member of the Houston Texans, according to Fornelli’s mock draft, which would make him the first receiver off the board at No. 12, despite missing the majority of the 2022 season with a hamstring injury.

“For my money,” Fornelli writes, “he’s still the best WR in this class. He might not be the biggest or the fastest, but everything he does is smooth. Keep in mind he played on an Ohio State team with Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2021, and JSN was the best of the three. Houston hopes pairing him with Bryce Young speeds up the rebuild.”