NFL Draft

Alabama's Bryce Young may be the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, but Ohio State's C.J. Stroud is clearly college football's best quarterback prospect for the 2023 NFL draft.

History has showed that collegiate hardware doesn't automatically equate to future success. It's happened more often than not as of late, but the likes of Robert Griffin III, Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota and Baker Mayfield (so far) didn't translate to the professional game and serve as warnings.

This isn't to say that Young isn't a quality prospect. But he can't automatically be pushed above every other quarterback on draft boards based on what he's done as part of the nation's most successful football program.

Just the fact that Stroud and Young are even in the early conversation as top draft selections is a wonderful change of pace after this year's group of signal-callers can be kindly described as the worst of this century.

"It was a really, really weak class," an AFC personnel executive told Heavy's Matt Lombardo. "Everyone knew it all along, but everyone tried to sell those guys to each other."

As a result, some franchises in desperate need of an infusion of talent under center punted on the position with an eye toward next April. This could benefit the entire class. Kentucky's Will Levis, Miami's Tyler Van Dyke, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Stanford's Tanner McKee should all be in the first-round mix as well.

But Stroud should lead the way as the true premium talent with No. 1 overall potential.

Ultimately, the conversation will hinge on Young vs. Stroud because they're the two most high-profile prospects playing for illustrious pipeline programs. They finished first and fourth, respectively, in Heisman voting last year. Their situations are now flipped slightly, with Stroud entering this season as the betting favorite for the award.

Stroud's physical tools, skill set, production and growth potential place him atop this year's crop.

Stroud's and Young's physical statures are night and day and will likely prove to be the biggest difference in their evaluations. The former is 6'3" and 218 pounds, while the latter is 6'0" and 194 pounds.

Young's height is less of an issue that it once was. After all, offenses operate out of the shotgun on a regular basis, and shorter options have succeeded in the league as of late.

However, Young's slight frame will be a major concern when it comes to taking an NFL pounding. Jim McMahon (6'1", 195 lbs) in 1982 is the last first-round quarterback over the last 40 years to weigh fewer than 200 pounds. Guys like Mayfield (6'1", 215 lbs), Kyler Murray (5'10", 207 lbs) and Russell Wilson (5'11", 215 lbs) are shorter quarterbacks, but they're thickly built. They can create significant torque in their lower bodies and hips because of their squatty frames.

Prototypical NFL size standards aside, Stroud layers throws to all three levels. The 20-year-old passer is particularly adept when he drives the ball down the field. His pure arm strength may not reach Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes levels, but he should be considered among the next tier.

Deep passing is also a byproduct of timing and touch. According to Pro Football Focus, Stroud was college football's most accurate deep passer going into bowl season. The reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year then dumped 573 yards and six touchdowns in a victory over the Utah Utes in the Rose Bowl.

It's important to make the distinction between those two points to ensure the number wasn't skewed because of that historic performance.

"I say with C.J., he really drops the ball in there. The best way to put it is like Russell Wilson," former teammate and first-round wide receiver Garrett Wilson told the Big Ten Network last year (h/t The Lantern's Jacob Benge).

PFF also graded Stroud as the best Big Ten quarterback last season with a 67.6 percent accurate pass rate.

NFL evaluators will start to salivate over a quarterback who navigates the pocket, keeps his eyes downfield and consistently delivers the football with a smooth, compact delivery.

Young isn't a slouch either. He has a great feel for the game with excellent touch within the scheme and creativity outside of structure. But his stature will remain a sticking point.

Levis, meanwhile, brings the best combination of size (6'3", 232 lbs) and raw arm talent, as well as two years of learning under current or former NFL offensive coordinators at Kentucky in Liam Coen and Rich Scangarello. Van Dyke lit up the second half of last season. He must repeat that performance over a full campaign. Richardson is a raw mound of elite athletic traits. Finally, McKee is a 6'6" pro-style quarterback coming out of Stanford, and he must help the program rise from the malaise of the last three seasons.

To take the next step, Stroud simply needs to build on what he's already done. Last season, the Ohio State starter became the only quarterback at the FBS level to finish top-five in completion percentage (71.9), passing yardage (4,435), passing touchdowns (44), yards per attempt (10.1) and quarterback rating (186.6).

Anything close to or exceeding those numbers will cement Stroud's status as not only the top quarterback prospect but also the leading candidate for the first overall pick (yes, even over Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. because of positional value).

The third-year signal-caller knows he must improve in certain areas, particularly in leading the offense and becoming a louder voice in the locker room.

"He's speaking up. He's more mature. He wants to win," wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba told reporters. "You know, we're all fired up. He's a competitor, and no one wants to win more than him, and he wants to bring that to the whole team and spread it out."

Head coach Ryan Day added: "I think that C.J. has really grown in terms of his leadership this year, and just has a much more, you know, wide perspective on everything that’s going on, not just his job. He sees it almost as a coach right now. I know his No. 1 thing is he wants to win, and everything else is secondary. And he’s practiced that way."

A better understanding of and an increased comfortability within the offense should speed up Stroud's process. Like most young quarterbacks, the one-year starter could be quicker to get off his first read and work his way through his progression to the point where it becomes far more natural in how he sees the field.

The Buckeyes' current setup provides a significant task, with Stroud needing to grow mentally within the scheme while taking on more responsibility with a reworked supporting cast. He is now the focal point of the offense. Everything flows through him and how he distributes the ball.

Ohio State remains extremely talented at receiver with Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr., Julian Fleming and Emeka Egbuka. But the group isn't nearly as experienced as the one from last year, when two first rounders—Wilson and Chris Olave—flanked the formation. Essentially, the roles reversed, with Stroud set to make his targets into top-end prospects.

Stroud fits the prototype of a professional quarterback. His traits as a passer are evident. He's playing at the highest level possible and producing against top competition. He has ample opportunity to build an already impressive resume. Maybe Stroud will even capture his own Heisman Trophy.

Either way, this season should serve as the coronation of Stroud as the nation's best quarterback and top option in 2023 even if he doesn't walk away with 45 pounds of Ed Smith-shaped cast bronze.

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Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

With the 2022 NFL draft well behind us, the discussion about who will be the top quarterback selected in the 2023 draft has begun, and right now, it appears Ohio State's C.J. Stroud has a slight edge over Alabama's Bryce Young.

In a poll of 12 NFL evaluators by ESPN's Matt Miller, Stroud received five first-place votes, while Young received three. Kentucky's Will Levis also received three first-place votes.

A rival college coach said of Stroud: "He just doesn't make mistakes. Some might see him as too cautious, but he picks apart defenses with his accuracy and his patience."

An NFL scout added that Stroud is "the most polished" and "his mechanics are clean."

Miller added that Stroud's early NFL comp is Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert because he has similar arm strength and has "a similarly strong frame with a running ability that could explode in the NFL."

The 20-year-old was a 4-star prospect out of Rancho Cucamonga, California, when he committed to Ohio State in December 2019. At the time, he was the third-ranked quarterback in the 2020 class in 247Sports' composite rankings, behind only Young and Clemson's DJ Uiagalelei.

Stroud had an impressive freshman season for the Buckeyes in 2021, completing 71.9 percent of his passes for 4,435 yards and 44 touchdowns against six interceptions in 12 games.

Ohio State finished the season 11-2 but failed to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. However, the team was selected to the Rose Bowl, which it won 48-45 over the Utah Utes.

After being a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2021, Stroud will be looking to take the next step in his career in 2022 and will aim to lead the Buckeyes back to a victory in the national championship game for the first time since the 2014 season.

As for Young, scouts voiced concerns about his smaller size. He is listed as 6'0", 194 pounds.

"He's not Kyler Murray, OK? Kyler is thick throughout his frame. Kyler is short, not small. Young is small," one NFL scout told Miller.

However, an opposing coach still lauded Young while speaking with Miller:

"He's a point guard. You want guys who can distribute the ball and charge the offense, and he does that. He's a magician with some of those passing angles he finds."

Miller added that Young's early NFL comp is Murray because, as shorter quarterbacks, they have a similar style of play and Young's "field vision and ability to create when the play breaks down is Murray-esque."

Young appeared in seven games for Alabama as a freshman in 2020, completing 13 of 22 passes for 156 yards and one touchdown.

The 21-year-old flourished as Alabama's starter in 2021, completing 66.9 percent of his passes for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He led the Crimson Tide to the national championship game against Georgia, but the team fell 33-18.

Young completed 33 of 57 passes in that game for 369 yards and one touchdown, but he also tossed two interceptions against the nation's best defense.

Like Stroud, Young will be looking to help Alabama win the national title this season before making the jump to the NFL.

Travon Walker surged up NFL draft boards as the 2021 season unfolded en route to being the No. 1 draft pick, and Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey could have a similar rise in the eyes of one NFC scout.

"No one is touching [Alabama edge rusher] Will Anderson, but Foskey could push himself into the top 10 this year," the scout told ESPN's Matt Miller. "He's that naturally talented. You just don't hear about him because there are so many studs at defensive end."

As the scout alluded to, Anderson might be untouchable as the top pass-rusher in the 2023 NFL draft class. The Crimson Tide star had 101 tackles, 31 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks in 2021.

Anderson aside, there isn't another can't-miss defensive end at this stage.

In May, ESPN's Todd McShay projected Anderson to land third overall and had Clemson's Myles Murphy as the next DE off the board at No. 16. Miller had Murphy in the same position in his June mock but ranked Army's Andre Carter II slightly ahead at No. 13.

Considering the continued importance of pressuring the quarterback, it stands to reason one or more edge-rushers will join Anderson as top-10 candidates when the draft rolls around next spring.

Foskey took a big step forward in his junior season, finishing with 52 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and six forced fumbles. If he follows up with a similarly strong 2022 campaign, then he might fulfill the NFC scout's prediction.

Isaiah Foskey's 10 sacks last season are the most by Notre Dame player since 2012 ☘️ pic.twitter.com/N5QlXtpDbL

— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 1, 2022

Notre Dame's schedule will afford him plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills, too.

The Fighting Irish open with Ohio State on the road, and Foskey's stock could soar if he's routinely making C.J. Stroud's life a nightmare in the pocket.

Clemson, Boston College and USC are on tap later in the year. That clash with the Trojans and Caleb Williams could be the perfect way for Foskey to end his regular season on a high note.

The 2022 NBA draft opens for business Thursday evening at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Wait, you thought this article was about future NFL talent? It is. But a significant differentiation exists between the two sports in regards to eligibility standards.

The NFL currently requires a prospect be three years removed from high school before he's deemed eligible to play. Whereas, the NBA demands a one-year requirement before entering the draft.

The general argument in favor of the extended waiting period centered on the vast majority not being physically or mentally prepared to endure the rigors of professional football. This isn't the case with everyone, though.

The likes of Adrian Peterson, Trevor Lawrence and even Derek Stingley Jr., who became this year's third overall pick, showed how silly the NFL's standing can be when it comes to truly elite talent. But 14 years have passed since Maurice Clarett challenged the standard only to have the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit rule against his case.

Even so, the possibility of a young superstar rising through the ranks and challenging the league again isn't out of the question. Had the rules changed prior to the 2022 draft, multiple previously ineligible prospects would have heard their names called very early in the process.

Five in particular stand out as top talents who wouldn't have waited long to hear their names called.

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QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

Ohio State's C.J. Stroud is DraftKings' current favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. Had he been eligible, the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year would have almost certainly been the top quarterback selected in the 2022 draft.

This incoming crop of quarterbacks turned into one of the weakest groups in recent memory. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Kenny Pickett with the 20th overall pick—which made him the lowest-drafted QB1 this century. No other signal-caller heard his name called until the third round.

Stroud, meanwhile, produced a fantastic campaign during his first season as the Buckeyes starter.

The 20-year-old became the only FBS quarterback to finish top four last season in completion percentage (71.9), average yards per attempt (10.1), touchdown passes (44) and quarterback rating (186.6). To expand on his productivity, Stroud was the nation's most accurate deep passer during the 2021 regular season and posted the highest rate of accurate passes over his last nine starts (including postseason), according to Pro Football Focus.

Some may argue in favor of Alabama's Bryce Young as the top quarterback prospect for next year's class. After all, he is the current Heisman Trophy winner. The difference lies in physical attributes. The 6'3", 218-pound Stroud has a much sturdier frame than the 6'0", 194-pound Young. The old prerequisites for playing the position have changed over time, but teams still prefer to have the bigger, strong option behind center if the talents are comparable.

In this case, the redshirt sophomore has an opportunity to put together a pair of outstanding seasons, win more accolades and claim the top spot among a much deeper quarterback class.

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RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Wisconsin's Braelon Allen is the closest person to replicate what Adrian Peterson did as a freshman at Oklahoma. In some ways, the current collegian is even more impressive.

The second-team All-Big Ten performer took the Big Ten Conference by storm before he even turned 18 years old. He ran for 1,268 yards, and his average of 6.8 yards per carry tied with fellow freshman TreVeyon Henderson for the nation's best among backs with 150 or more carries. For comparison, Peterson ran for 1,925 yards and averaged 5.7 yards per tote as a freshaman, though he carried the ball 153 more times. On the other side of the spectrum, freshman Derrick Henry managed 35 carries for 382 yards in a loaded Alabama backfield.

These two comparisons are important because of their physical stature. Both Peterson and Henry always looked larger than life, capable of running through and past defenders. Allen, too, is a sculpted 6'2", 238-pounder.

Now eligible to vote, Allen is physically different than anyone else at the position and maybe in all of college football. The running back cleaned 405 pounds when he was just 16 years old, and he's bigger, thicker and stronger after being in the Badgers' weight program for a full year.

"A lot of the stuff he does is freakish, whether it be in the weight room or out here," tight end Jake Ferguson, whom the Dallas Cowboys drafted in this year's fourth round, told reporters. "Just being able to block for him, it’s awesome. Him just running through people’s faces is pretty cool to watch. … He's running hard. I keep telling him, ‘Just run through somebody’s face.'"

Physically, Allen could be one of the NFL's top backs right now.

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TE Brock Bowers, Georgia

Not a single tight end heard his name called in this year's first round. Brock Bowers will be a first-round pick as soon as he becomes available.

As a true freshman, Bowers led the national champion Georgia Bulldogs with 56 receptions, 882 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He ranked third among all tight ends in receiving yards, first among those with 50 or more receptions at 15.8 yards per catch and first in touchdown receptions.

The 6'4", 230-pound target is already an instant mismatch in the passing game, which is where today's tight ends hold the highest value. His ability to adjust to the ball and highpoint passes with strong hands and fantastic body control makes him difficult to cover, even when a defender is in position.

"Once he got into contact, he’s got really good toughness," Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart told reporters in December. "He’s got great lower body strength. He’s got great pass-catching radius and good speed. These things combine to make for a good tight end.

"The fact that he’s been so composed has surprised me the most. There's not been a moment too big for him. It doesn't matter to him whether he's playing in the backyard or playing our defense against the scout team or he's playing Clemson in the opening game, for him he wants to do it the right way. It’s important to him to do it the right way."

Typically, tight ends must be considered special to earn their way into first-round consideration. Bowers might already be a top-10 talent.

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Edge Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

Travon Walker wouldn't have been the No. 1 overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars this year had Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. been available.

Sure, Walker has unreal physical traits that made him worthy of the status, but he's far from a polished prospect and nowhere near the disruptive force the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year is.

Clearly, those within college football saw Anderson as the far superior player considering the hardware he won. Granted, a player can't bring collegiate accolades with him to the professional game. But Anderson earned the recognition because he's a complete game-wrecker.

Last season, the 20-year-old led the FBS with 17.5 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss. He had 12.5 more tackles for loss than any other player at that level. His 81 quarterback pressures led everyone as well, according to PFF. Oh, he led the nation with 60 pressures during his true freshman campaign, too.

The 6'4", 243-pound Anderson isn't built like other edge defenders considered worthy of the No. 1 overall pick. Courtney Brown, Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett and even Walker were all around 6'5" and 265-plus pounds with long levers and outstanding physiques. Still, Anderson is an explosive athlete capable of blowing by blockers. At the same time, he doesn't quite fit the typical standards for being an elite talent at the position.

His constant disruption, ability to bend and closing burst on the quarterback may be a little more reminiscent of another Alabama great, Derrick Thomas. To be sure, it's a lofty comparison. But Anderson is college football's most dominant edge-rusher over the last two decades.

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DL Jalen Carter, Georgia

Aaron Donald made everyone look at the defensive tackle position differently. He showed a premium pass-rusher doesn't need to work off the edge full-time.

Generally, an edge-rusher is counted among the premium positions. But a defensive tackle can be just as valuable, if not more so, based on his ability to create pressure.

Among an absolutely loaded Georgia defense—which featured this year's No. 1 overall pick, as well as the reigning Butkus and Outland Trophy winners—Carter often looked like the best player on the field.

As a true sophomore, the 6'3", 310-pounder led all Power Five interior defenders in pass-rush win rate, per PFF. He also led all returning SEC defensive tackles in overall grade.

Carter is a tenacious and competitive defender, and the Bulldogs coaching staff expects to get even more out of him this fall.

"I took him off kickoff returns, I wanted [him to be fresh to rush the passer] and he was pissed at me," Smart told reporters in January. "I thought he was going to beat me up over there when I told him he couldn’t go on kickoff return, because he wanted to go on kickoff return. He had been playing defensive line, he had blocked the field goal, played on offense, and played fullback.

"So he’s a talented player, and the sky’s the limit for him."

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Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.

To little surprise, arguably the top two players in the 2023 draft class play at Alabama.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. released his first big board Tuesday, featuring pass-rusher Will Anderson Jr. as the top overall player ahead of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young.

Ohio State star C.J. Stroud currently sits at No. 3. Here is an early look at how Kiper sees the upcoming class:

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Kiper's 2023 Big Board

1. Will Anderson Jr., DE, Alabama

2. Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

3. C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

4. Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

6. Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

7. Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

8. Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama

9. Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU

10. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

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The 2022 draft was light on household names, with eventual No. 1 pick Travon Walker only one of many elite players on the Georgia defense. Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback taken in Round 1, and he had a low profile heading into last season.

That shouldn't be the case this year with several big-name stars returning to college.

Young won the Heisman as a sophomore, totaling 4,872 passing yards and 47 touchdowns while leading the Crimson Tide to the title game. Stroud was nearly as good in 2021, finishing with 4,435 passing yards and 44 touchdowns.

The two top quarterbacks will likely spend next season battling for the Heisman as well as the right to be taken No. 1 overall in the 2023 draft.

Miami's Tyler Van Dyke, Florida's Anthony Richardson and Kentucky's Will Levis were also listed among Kiper's top 25 players in the class.

The nation's best player might come on the defensive side of the ball, however. Anderson finished fifth in Heisman voting last year after totaling 17.5 sacks and 101 tackles, winning the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award in the process.

The Alabama edge-rusher might not be the No. 1 pick based on need, but he won't wait long to hear his name called.

Another interesting addition to the top 10 is Texas running back Bijan Robinson, who had 1,422 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns in 10 games before an elbow injury. The last running back drafted inside the top 20 was Saquon Barkley in 2018 (No. 2), and Robinson will try to change the trend with a big year.      

Count offensive guard Cole Strange among those who were surprised when the New England Patriots selected him with the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

In an interview with MassLive.com's Chris Mason on Friday, Strange's father, Greg Strange, gave an account of the conversation that occurred when the Pats called Cole to tell him they were drafting him.

Per Strange, the interaction between Cole and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on the phone was as follows:

[Cole] said, 'Sir, I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, but I've gotta know because I've got some crazy friends. Is this a prank?’ The guy said, 'Hold on just a second.' And then Bill Belichick got on the phone and of course, unless you've been under a rock for the last 20 years, you know Bill Belichick's voice.

As soon as I heard Bill Belichick's voice, Cole and I both started screaming and hugging and acting crazy. Probably saying a bunch of inappropriate stuff. We were so excited. To his credit, you've gotta love the guy, Belichick is sitting there and when we got through, the first break he had, he said, 'Hey Cole, you've gotta act like you've been there, man.' It was classic to us. We absolutely loved it.

Strange going 29th overall to New England was among the most shocking picks in the draft since most draft experts didn't have anything better than a Day 2 grade on him.

That included the Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department, which gave him a third-round grade and ranked him as the No. 98 overall player in the class.

Belichick has long had a penchant for going against the norm and getting players he likes early in the draft, even if most don't have the prospects ranked as high.

Perhaps the most comparable example occurred in 2005 when New England took Fresno State guard Logan Mankins 32nd overall despite the consensus among experts being that he was closer to a mid-round pick.

Belichick got the last laugh, as Mankins was a seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time First Team All-Pro during his 11-year NFL career.

Strange will look to follow in Mankins' footsteps after starring collegiately at Chattanooga, improving his stock during the pre-draft process and shocking pundits by sneaking into the first round.