The 2023 NFL Draft is going to be much more attractive for quarterback needy teams like the NY Giants than the 2022 draft was. Indeed, 2022 was considered a dry year compared to others in terms of talent at QB. In the majority of years, in the run up to the draft, analysts and fans have a good idea on which quarterback will be taken first, and how many players at the position will be selected in the first round.
The 2022 NFL Draft was truly the opposite, with many differing uncertainties about each of the top QB prospects. If the crop of signal-callers was like any other year, the Giants would very likely have picked a quarterback in the first round, but new head coach Brian Daboll will give Daniel Jones another shot and the ultimate test to see if he could be the Giants future at quarterback. If Jones shows none or very little growth, then the Giants can move on.
The smart decision of not betting on a quarterback from the 2022 class, and waiting for the 2023 draft to pick their guy, could pay off big time for the G-Men with the way the top college quarterbacks are shaping up. Here’s a look at four QBs who could start in place of Jones next fall.
4. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud
C.J. Stroud was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school. Heavily recruited by many college programs, he decided to join Ohio State. Stroud played very little as a freshman in 2020 but saw his game time increase in a major way in 2021, becoming the Buckeyes starter and playing 12 games. The Buckeyes QB threw for 4,435 yards in the regular season, and also threw 44 touchdowns to only 6 interceptions.
Ohio State was the No. 1 offense in the country statistically with 561.2 yards per game whilst scoring 45.7 points per game. Stroud’s statically impressive performance led him to being named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Standing at 6-3, Stroud has the ideal physique that NFL teams love in quarterbacks.
He can navigate the pocket really well and has elite ball placement. Presuming Stroud sees no drop off in performance in 2022, there’s a good chance he could be picked first in the 2023 NFL Draft. Will the Giants be their to take him? Only time will tell.