Buckeyes' C.J. Stroud NFL Combine's Biggest Quarterback Winner?

C.J. Stroud left a good impression on NFL scouts and executives during the NFL's Scouting Combine. Will it be enough to make him QB1?

Author:
Harrison Reno
Publish date:
Mar 6, 2023 9:48 AM EST

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Ohio State Buckeyes

The NFL Scouting Combine wrapped up on Sunday evening with the offensive linemen and running backs, which featured several Ohio State Buckeyes over the four-day event.

Former Buckeyes' quarterback C.J. Stroud was among the top performers from the Combine and arguably may have been the biggest winner out of the quarterbacks who participated in the on-field drills.

Was it enough to see him jump up the draft boards?

Stroud only worked out in the throwing portions of Saturday. Still, despite never doing anything of the workouts that tested his athleticism, his precision and accuracy wowed those in attendance and watching on television.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, the broadcast partner of Rich Eisen, raved about Strouyd during the broadcast. "You couldn't script a better day for him throwing the football," Jeremiah said of Stroud on-air.

Jeremiah then followed it up with a tweet:

Stroud's performance in Indianapolis picked up where his Ohio State career left off in the Peach Bowl against Georgia, where he completed 67 percent of his throws, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns.

Stroud even showed off his ability to work off a script, a frequently-asked question raised by critics who worried he wasn't athletic enough or could not make plays with his legs or make throws off-platform.

Mel Kiper's last mock draft before the Combine had Stroud going off the board at No. 2 in a projected trade between the Chicago Bears, who swapped picks with the Houston Texans, before trading the Houston pick to the Indianapolis Colts, who then selected Stroud.

Unlike Stroud, Bryce Young did not participate in the Combine's on-field work. Instead, he watched from the sideline and interviewed with teams. So if Stroud is to pass Young on draft boards, it will be because of the Combine and his Pro Day, where he said he intends to show off his athleticism.

"That's something that I'll show at my pro day -- I'll show my athleticism, I'll show my ability to escape pressure," Stroud said. "I've done it before on film, but since people don't think I can do it, I'm gonna do it again."