Colts 2023 NFL Draft prospect preview: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft, IndyStar will preview prospects who could be a fit for the Colts. They pick at No. 4 in the first round, No. 35 in the second round and No. 79 in the third round.
Previous prospect previews:
Today's preview looks at Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 214
Projected round: 1
40-yard dash time: N/A
Bench press: N/A
Vertical jump: N/A
Broad jump: N/A
3-cone drill: N/A
20-yard shuttle: N/A
Key stats: Threw 85 touchdowns to 12 interceptions with 8,123 yards on 69.3% completions and 9.8 yards per attempt in two seasons as Ohio State's starter. Placed No. 4 in the trophy race in 2021 and No. 3 in 2022. Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 as a redshirt freshman after finishing No. 2 in the nation in pass efficiency and No. 3 in touchdown passes.
Quotable: "I tried to describe myself as free-flowing but still disciplined. I'm able to take the completion when it's there, but at the same time making plays. I like to be just confident in myself. Another thing I like to do is extend plays and take the routine plays when they're routine. I don't try to press the envelope, and I think that's very important being a quarterback sometimes. You want to let your teammates know that you're not always trying to be Superman, but when you need to make that play and you can extend that play, you get a lot more respect from your teammates."
Analysis: This pre-draft process has had so much talk about measurables, college production, experience and how much each piece counts for. If you're trying to find it all in a quarterback, good luck.
But it's possible that exists within C.J. Stroud.
Stroud stepped in for a top-10 draft pick in Justin Fields in 2021 in what can only be called a perfect situation, throwing to Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, who just dueled it out for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year; plus two future first-round picks in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. Stroud delivered a near perfect audition, winning Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year and finishing fourth in the Heisman voting while finishing second in the nation with 44 touchdown passes.
He's able to produce in these ways, with 23 completions a game and 9.8 yards an attempt, because he's the best thrower to all portions of the field in this draft. The shows he performed at the combine and his pro day were windows into the consistency he displayed every game, showing that quick timing on the ball out of a receiver's cut, the smooth speeds it arrives by at a catch point they expect. He can add loft to throw a downfield receiver open or take some off to avoid a safety.
The question became whether that's all he was in a sport where many quarterbacks become superheroes with their legs. It's an ironic question for a player who ran 48 yards for a touchdown against Michigan State on his first career play, but it became real when he posted negative yardage in his second season and openly resisted the idea of running.
His explanations always made sense, that this is indeed a passing game factory, and to not get the ball in the hands of an open Harrison Jr. or Smith-Njigba on a primary read would be to turn the most team-oriented position in sports into a vanity project. Ohio State had championship aspirations, and he had Heisman hopes, and neither would happen if the quarterback got hurt.
But then he lost a second game to arch-rival Michigan with some third-down plays left on the field, which cost another chance at a Big Ten championship. Ohio State backed into the College Football Playoff. Something changed. Stroud came out against the best defense in the country in Georgia and used his legs in ways he never had, from evading pressures to scrambling for first downs to adding life to his downfield throws. He faced a final drive in the rare circumstances of a talent disadvantage with Smith-Njigba and Harrison Jr. hurt and answered with a 27-yard scramble that set up a potential game-winning field goal that fell wide left.
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If the final game of Stroud's career is a preview of his next one, he could become what Justin Herbert is. It's easy to forget that Herbert was the sixth pick and third quarterback selected when he wound up with the Chargers, and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen unlocked the athleticism, build and confidence to produce one of the greatest rookie seasons ever. Scouts like to say that if you see a trait once, it's there. It's the coaches' job to bring it out consistently.
I question whether that will happen with Stroud as a runner. The way he chuckled at a question at his pro day about training for the 40-yard dash offers a window into a playing style that has become intrinsic through all that repetition. Preparing for a month for one game with everything on the line against Georgia forced a new reality, but it was a cameo more than a transformation. This isn't going to be Jalen Hurts 2.0.
But he can use those legs to bolster his passing the way Herbert and Joe Burrow, one of his mentors, have mastered. That blend could make him the best of all worlds in this class, with the size Bryce Young lacks and the polish and touch that Anthony Richardson and Will Levis aspire toward. His top trait of accuracy isn't as flashy as Young's pocket presence, Levis' arm strength or Richardson's speed, but he can match theirs better than they can his.
Given Steichen's success with Herbert, the Colts' presence as a dome team and Chris Ballard's insistence on a leader at quarterback, this could be a natural pairing. It's also the one they might have sacrificed by allowing the Panthers to trade to No. 1. But if Carolina opts for Young or Richardson, the Texans could pass on Stroud, and a dream could form -- especially with Harrison Jr. entering the draft next spring.
Projecting Stroud from Ohio State into a rebuilding offense in a pro league isn't the easiest, but the structure he can build out is as enticing as anything in this year's draft.
Contact Colts insider Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts 2023 NFL Draft prospect preview: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
