Carolina Panthers Leaning Towards C.J. Stroud After Acquiring No. 1 Pick?

After trading up for the No. 1 overall pick the Carolina Panthers will have their choice at quarterback. Could Ohio State Buckeyes' C.J. Stroud be the No. 1 pick?

Could C.J. Stroud be the choice of the Carolina Panthers that they decided to trade up to the No. 1 overall pick for? 

A report from The Athletic's Joseph Person said that "league insiders believe," the former Ohio State quarterback is the Panthers' favorite out of the other three quarterbacks, Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis. 

The Panthers pulled the trigger on Friday's trade, sending the No. 9 and No. 61 (second-round) picks, along with their 2024 first-round and 2025 second-round pick, and wide receiver DJ Moore, to move up to the top spot. 

This will allow them to pick their guy and not have to worry about anybody else taking them. According to The Athletic, their guy looks to be Stroud. 

The former Buckeye seems to have jumped Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, the long-assumed top quarterback in the class, after taking the NFL Combine by storm with his precision and timing in the passing drills. 

But it wasn't just the Combine that could propel Stroud to being the first pick in the NFL Draft, as in his last game with the Buckeyes against the eventual national champion Georgia Bulldogs; he silenced some critics who questioned his mobility. 

Stroud left all on the field in the 42-41 College Football Playoff Semifinal loss, completing 67 percent of his throws for 348 yards and four touchdowns while adding 34 yards with his legs. 

Stroud's consistency in college, capped off with a strong showing against Georgia and the Combine, has likely helped him jump Young and the other prospects.

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