WATCH: Carolina Panthers brass share special moment with QB CJ Stroud at Ohio State Pro Day
After he put on a show during his throwing session at the Ohio State pro day on Wednesday, potential No. 1 draft pick C.J. Stroud surely left scouts leaving impressed. And he might have left the strongest impression with the team that could take him first overall, the Carolina Panthers.
The NFL Network cameras captured Stroud greeting and sharing a conversation with a number of coaches for the Panthers. Along with head coach Frank Reich are quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and senior assistant Jim Caldwell.
And all the parties involved looked to be enjoying their discussion.
This little tidbit will only add fuel to the speculation and debate about who the Panthers intend to draft with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft: Stroud, or Alabama’s Bryce Young?
Along with this cozy little moment, Stroud and the Panthers brass met prior to his workout and are going to get together at least once more.
“The Panthers met with Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud on Tuesday in advance of today’s pro day throwing session and plan to have another private meeting with Stroud before the draft in Charlotte, per sources,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero wrote on Twitter. “A thorough process as Carolina ponders the No. 1 pick.”
With the No. 1 pick likely to turn into a franchise quarterback of some sort, Carolina is seemingly leaving no stone unturned. They sent an array of front office executives and coaches to watch Stroud. And as ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. noted the other day, the pro day circuit is likely the last look at these quarterbacks on a football field.
“Figuring out QB1,” Kiper said on SportsCenter. “Now they’re in a position to get that QB1, own this division for a long time but they hit on that quarterback at nine, they probably weren’t gonna get any of the top three, maybe even top four. Now these pro days are coming up the 22nd of March: C.J. Stroud, 23rd Bryce Young, 24th Will Levis, very important.”
He continued: “Anthony Richardson‘s the 30th of March, but the top three right now, three horse race, Bryce Young, you’re gonna take the outlier with size. There hasn’t been a quarterback this size go in the first round ever. C.J. Stroud is red hot. They’re gonna QB1 off their board, guaranteed now, by making this monumental deal.”