C.J. Stroud ended up being a top-two overall pick after all.
Despite rumors in the days leading up to the draft that the Houston Texans were not sold on the Ohio State quarterback, the Texans ended up selecting the former Ohio State quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick after all, making him the highest-drafted Buckeye quarterback ever.
When dreams become reality @CJ7STROUD | @HoustonTexans
— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2023
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— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 28, 2023
QB1 found his home
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) April 28, 2023
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— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 28, 2023
Stroud surpasses Art Schlichter, who was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1982 NFL draft, to become the highest-drafted Ohio State quarterback. He’s the fourth Buckeye ever to go with the No. 2 overall pick, joining Chase Young (2020), Nick Bosa (2019) and Jim McDonald (1938).
Stroud is Ohio State’s fourth-ever first-round quarterback and the third in the last five years, joining Justin Fields (No. 11, Chicago Bears, 2021) and Dwayne Haskins (No. 15, Washington Commanders, 2019).
He’s the first Buckeye to be drafted by the Texans since Braxton Miller in 2016. He joins a Texans roster that currently includes three Buckeyes: Noah Brown, Cameron Johnston and Kendall Sheffield.
Stroud was one of two players to be drafted in the top three picks by the Texans, who also traded up to the No. 3 overall pick to select Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson – the player many believed they would take ahead of Stroud at No. 2.
He was one of three Buckeyes drafted in Thursday night’s first round along with Paris Johnson Jr. (No. 6 overall, Arizona Cardinals) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (No. 20 overall, Seattle Seahawks).
Stroud became one of the top prospects in this year’s NFL draft with a prolific two-year run as Ohio State’s starting quarterback in which he completed 69.3 percent of his passing attempts (575-of-830) for 8,123 yards and 85 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions. A two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, Stroud finished his Ohio State career with the best passer rating (182.4) in Big Ten history.
Now, Stroud looks to continue that success at the next level, where he – along with Fields – will look to change the narrative that Ohio State quarterbacks don’t succeed in the NFL.
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— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) April 28, 2023
