Buckeyes WRs Abilities Hurting C.J. Stroud Draft Stock?

Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud holds program records for single-game passing yards, most games with six passing touchdowns, single-season completion percentage and the most career 300-yard passing games.

Potential No. 1 overall selection C.J. Stroud might have a new knock against him: his receivers were too good.

Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said in his evaluations, Stroud was the only of the draft's top quarterback prospects that didn't have to "deal with" receivers not being open, likely a compliment to the Ohio State Buckeyes pass catchers.

After watching most of the snaps of the drafts top QBs one of the things that stands out is how little separation every QBs WR got besides Stroud. Tons of snaps for Young/Richardson/Levis where there is “no one open” as a note. Stroud didn’t deal with that often

— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) March 13, 2023

Stroud impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine, earning All-Combine honors for his short, intermediate and deep throws, including a 20-yard strike to former teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The Inland Empire, CA. native garnered high praise for his performance in Indianapolis, as NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said he had "one of the best throwing sessions I've seen at the combine." Another NFL scout said Stroud handled the "tricky" short routes.

"Everything was clean. His arm was effortlessly big. He measured well. Pretty much perfect,” the scout said.

One of those pass catchers, who only played in three games last season, was projected first-round pick Smith-Njigba.

The Rockwall, TX. native put his route-running on display in addition to his combine highs 3.93 20-yard shuttle and 6.57 three-cone drill, which led ESPN's Mina Kimes to say on "NFL Live" that "he has the highest floor" of all draft-eligible wide receivers.

"Game after game, down after down, he just gets open and catches the football," Kimes said. "You see NFL-caliber route-running, a very high understanding of how to attack defenses and coverages, and then incredibly reliable hands."

That's not to mention in Smith-Njigba's absence last season, Stroud had the luxury of throwing to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, which Pro Football Focus named as the top two receivers for 2023.

Ahead of April's draft, teams will have to balance Stroud's arm talent with how easy throws were for him to make. 

One thing's for sure, Stroud, who had the second-best program career completion percentage at 69.3 percent, delivered the pass on target more often than not.

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