CJ Stroud (Texans) NFL Draft Preview
Post-Draft Fantasy Impact
The Houston Texans selected CJ Stroud as the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he is expected to take the field as their starting quarterback immediately. Houston clearly believes in Stroud, even drafting wide receiver Tank Dell at Stroud’s urging. With a decent offensive line in front of him, Stroud can make an impact in fantasy football this season.
The Texans find themselves in a division with two other rebuilding teams, which could work in Stroud’s favor. With fewer dominant defenses to contend with, he has a better chance of posting good numbers. Despite being my third-ranked rookie quarterback, I project Stroud to have the most passing yards among rookie QBs this season. His accuracy and the team’s pass-heavy approach should help him rack up some significant yardage.
In redraft leagues, I would advise fantasy managers to avoid Stroud. While he has the potential to put up some decent numbers, he is still an unproven rookie and could struggle to adapt to the speed and complexity of the NFL, especially on a team in rebuilding mode. However, in dynasty leagues, Stroud has the potential to be a QB1 in the future. Fantasy managers who are willing to be patient and invest in his long-term potential could reap significant rewards down the line.
CJ Stroud NFL Draft Preview
CJ Stroud, the heralded junior quarterback from Ohio State, is about to become one of the first picks in this year’s NFL draft. Stroud is no stranger to the spotlight, having spent his college career at one of the country’s most high-profile college football programs. While with the Buckeyes, Stroud completed almost 70% of his passes, threw for 8,123 yards with 85 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions. He is a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and the Griese-Brees quarterback of the year in 2021 and 2022.
Stroud is projected to go within the top two picks, so he will be on a team unlikely to be as dominant as the team he led to 21 victories in 25 games as a starter in college. But, Stroud is a pro-ready quarterback and will be a day-one starter on whichever team he lands.
Measurables
- 6’3” 214 lbs
- Arm Length 32.625”
- Hand Size 10”
Just re-watched tape of CJ Stroud vs. Georgia in CFP semi. It was a loss but OSU dropped 41 on a UGA D that allowed just 14.3 ppg. Stroud played his best game in his biggest moment. His mobility and creativity here is what NFL team’s have been starving to see. pic.twitter.com/MFOwozwbHp
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 20, 2023
Positives
One of Stroud’s strengths as a quarterback is his ability to place his passes in good position for receivers to be able to run after the catch. He gets the ball out quickly, which allows him to take advantage of his receivers’ speed and agility.
Another strength of Stroud’s is his timing on his passes. He has a great sense of when to release the ball, allowing him to make accurate throws even when under pressure.
He has elite accuracy from the pocket and is willing to be aggressive. He has good arm strength and is able to make deep throws to stretch the field for his team. He has what has been described as a “feathery” touch and is able to place the ball away from the defender’s reach.
He is decisive in throwing the ball and displays good leadership abilities. He has the respect and trust of his coaches and teammates.
CJ Stroud ball placement near the goal-line. pic.twitter.com/cWDB75d2mS
— Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) March 18, 2023
Negatives
In terms of his weaknesses, Stroud seems to lack awareness when he’s in the pocket. He’s not very elusive, so he may be more susceptible to sacks and could struggle to extend plays with his legs. Defenses in the NFL are much more complex and difficult to read than the teams he faced in college, so he will need to improve on that.
Another area where Stroud may need to improve is his ability to make decisions on the fly. He had a lot of pre-determined throws and was surrounded by elite receivers at Ohio State, so he was able to throw to his first or second option most of the time. The pace of the game will be significantly faster in the pros and he won’t have the advantage of playing with receivers who are vastly better than the defenders.
Another concern is that Stroud is untested because his Ohio State team was so talented. He may not have faced the level of competition that other quarterbacks have faced, which could be a disadvantage for him.
Grade A
CJ Stroud is a young quarterback with a lot of potential. He has shown himself to be a very accurate passer with good arm strength and a great sense of timing on his passes. However, he needs to work on his awareness in the pocket and his ability to make split-second decisions. Despite these weaknesses, there are a number of reasons why Stroud could be a successful quarterback in the NFL, including his accuracy as a passer and his ability to distribute the ball. While there may be some obstacles he will need to overcome, such as facing tougher competition in the NFL and improving his mobility in the pocket, Stroud’s talent and potential make him an exciting pick for a team in need of a franchise quarterback.
Doug Burrell finished 2022 as Fantasy Nerd’s Most Accurate Expert in NFL Picks and Tallysight’s #1 ranked expert Against the Spread Expert out of 200+ experts. He is a veteran, a runner and an avid fantasy sports enthusiast since 1999. You can reach him on Twitter @dougwburrell.
