C.J. Stroud Now The Favorite To Be Taken With First Pick In 2023 NFL Draft

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud is now the betting favorite to be taken with the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Following the Carolina Panthers’ trade with the Chicago Bears to take over the No. 1 pick, several oddsmakers have Stroud listed as the favorite, followed by Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson as the consensus top three, with Kentucky quarterback Will Levis and Alabama defensive end Will Anderson following that first grouping.

Young had been projected as the top pick in the draft for several months now, but a standout performance at the NFL Scouting Combine has elevated Stroud in position to be taken first overall, with the Panthers and head coach Frank Reich looking for a new starting quarterback. If the Panthers were to pass on Stroud, it’s unlikely he would make it past the first three selections, with the Houston Texans at No. 2 requiring a quarterback and a team likely to trade up at No. 3 for a signal caller.

The highest selection ever for an Ohio State quarterback was Art Schlichter, who was taken by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 4 pick in the 1982 NFL Draft. Despite a long history of first-round draft selections, the Buckeyes have yet to see a player selected with the No. 1 overall pick, meaning Stroud could make history in the upcoming draft.

The 2023 NFL Draft runs from April 27-29, and other Buckeyes looking to hear their name called in the first round include wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and offensive tackles Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones.