ESPN's Mel Kiper's Final Mock Draft Features Two Top-10 Buckeyes

ESPN's Mel Kiper has former Buckeyes C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba all being taken Thursday night in the NFL Draft, adding to Ohio State's pedigree of producing first-round selections.

ESPN's Mel Kiper released his final mock for the 2023 NFL Draft, and it features two Buckeyes in the top 10 with a third who slid down the board.

Kiper has the Tennessee Titans — who are coached by former Ohio State Buckeye great Mike Vrabel — trading with the Arizona Cardinals for the No. 3 overall pick and selecting quarterback C.J. Stroud. Six picks later, Kiper has the Chicago Bears selecting offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 selection in the first round to protect former Buckeyes signal-caller Justin Fields once again.

"This would mean the Titans going all-in on a rookie quarterback, potentially trading away Ryan Tannehill and bypassing Malik Willis," Kiper said in his analysis of the Stroud pick. "While I like Will Levis (Kentucky) just a little bit more, Stroud is my fifth-ranked prospect overall. He is a stellar downfield passer with pinpoint accuracy and anticipation."

Down at No. 22 overall, Kiper has the Baltimore Ravens taking wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba — a lower spot for the Rockwall, TX. native than some previous mock drafts had him going.

"Smith-Njigba could go earlier than this, but he would really help Baltimore," Kiper said. "He could be a star out of the slot. The Ravens added Odell Beckham Jr., but that was just a one-year deal, and he wouldn't take away reps from Smith-Njigba. This would be a selection to get Lamar Jackson some help."

Ohio State has had the third-most ever NFL Draft selections by school with 479 all-time, owning the most first-round picks of any college with 87. 

Where Stroud, Johnson and Smith-Njigba land will be ultimately decided Thursday night with the first round beginning at 8 p.m. on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.

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