C.J. Stroud Talks Future with Raiders at Combine: Insights and Expectations
March 5, 2023
Hunter Macias
The article discusses Stroud's strengths and weaknesses as a player, as well as his desire to play close to home.
NFL Draft
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C.J. Stroud Talks Future with Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are on the lookout for their next franchise quarterback, and they may have found a potential candidate in C.J. Stroud. The Raiders kicked off their scouting efforts at the Combine by interviewing Stroud, who is considered the second-best quarterback prospect in the upcoming draft, behind Alabama's Bryce Young.
Stroud, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and former Ohio State starter, impressed the Raiders' Head Coach Josh McDaniels, General Manager Dave Ziegler, and front office staff with his unwavering confidence and self-awareness. He confidently explained his offensive system and answered questions about his athleticism and ability to perform at the next level.
C.J. Stroud Career at Ohio
Despite missing out on two of his goals in college - beating Michigan and winning a national championship - Stroud has a chip on his shoulder and hopes to use that as motivation to do better things in the NFL. And with the confidence and self-awareness he showcased at the Combine, the Raiders may have found their next franchise quarterback. However, the Raiders may need to move up a few slots to secure Stroud, who expressed his desire to play close to home in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The Raiders have the seventh overall pick in the upcoming draft, and Stroud is considered the second-best quarterback prospect behind Bryce Young.
While both prospects have their strengths and weaknesses, Stroud's infrequent runs at Ohio State have created the perception that he either can't or won't use his legs to make plays. However, his lack of running has not hindered his play. In 25 games with the Buckeyes, Stroud threw for 8,123 yards and completed 69% of his passes, with 89 touchdown passes against only 12 interceptions on 830 pass attempts. Stroud's ability to sidestep trouble in the pocket and still allow plays to develop downfield is evidence of his vision and athletic ability. He takes pride in feeding his teammates the ball, and if necessary, he will use his legs to make a play. He's confident that he can make the plays needed to be a successful NFL quarterback.
He takes pride in his "free-flowing but still disciplined" approach and in his abilities as a self-proclaimed ball-placement specialist. "I don't try to press the envelope, and I think that's very important being a quarterback sometimes because you want to let your teammates know that you're not always trying to be Superman," Stroud reflected. "But when you need to be to make that play and you can extend that play, you get a lot more respect from your teammates."
The Combine is just the beginning of a long evaluation process for the Raiders, with workouts, pro days, and visits still to come. However, Stroud is eager to continue to impress and prove himself in all of them. The Raiders may have found their next franchise quarterback in Stroud, but only time will tell if he can live up to the hype.