NFL Draft: CJ Stroud 2/1 to be number one pick

Mark Mothershaw Updated: 21 Feb 23 13:51 Published: 21 Feb 23 13:22

We are 2/1 on OSU's CJ Stroud landing the number one pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and offering 4/11 for any other player to be snapped up first.

NFL Draft Special:

CJ Stroud 1st Overall Pick in the 2023 NFL Draft

Yes: 2/1
No: 4/11

With the Kansas City Chiefs still celebrating their dramatic NFL Championship success against the Philadelphia Eagles, the attentions of many are already starting to turn towards April’s NFL Draft.

As ever, there is a plethora of young elite talent ready and waiting to make their move to the big league after producing star turns at NCAAF level, but the big question, as ever, is who will be the first 2023 pick?

Well, we are 2/1 that the honour will be bestowed upon Ohio State QB CJ Young, with the California-native recently confirming his decision to test his hand in the NFL after a couple of superb seasons in collegiate football.

The 6ft 3ins 215-pounder registered 3,688 passing yards and 41 touchdowns in 2022, including a career-best 348-yard, four touchdown performance in OSU’s agonising playoff defeat against Georgia.

Those numbers, together with Young’s power and pace, are certain to have attracted the attention of a large number of teams prioritising a new QB in April’s draft, including the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and the New York Jets.

Stroud, you’d expect, will be a nailed-on first pound pick, and one who will compete with the likes of Alabama starter Bryce Young (10/13) and Kentucky’s Will Levis (7/1) to become the first QB off the board in Kansas City between April 27-29.

As things stand, the Chicago Bears own the first pick following a lacklustre 3-14 season finish, but with demand for QB’s certain to be high, there is every chance that the Bears trade down to acquire more starting assets.

There is a slim chance that the NFC North side do in fact take a punt on Stroud (125/1 to be the 2023/24 MVP), although it appears hugely unlikely given the fact that Justin Fields has started to find his feet at Soldier Field after becoming their first pick, and 11th overall, in the 2021 Draft.

There will be a huge onus on many sides looking for a vastly improved 2023 season to work well in the draft, especially during the opening couple of rounds.

AU's coveted cornerstone Young, like Stroud, will be on the watch lists of many, but at just 6ft, and 194-pounds, could that count against him when it comes down to a straight shootout between the two standout QBs?

Of course, Young’s ability to make off-schedule plays and his dynamic pocket presence could be just what certain franchises are looking for in April, but there is no doubt that Stroud, on the back of his standout season, coupled a potentially impressive NFL Scouting Combine, could well be holding aloft the No. 1 jersey in Kansas City.