Buckeyes expecting impressive first round at NFL Draft
COLUMBUS — Talking season is over. The NFL Draft is officially here, and Ohio State is expecting a loaded first round for its former players.
At least three former Buckeyes superstars are expected to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Quarterback C.J. Stroud, offensive tackle Paris Johnson and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba are all nearly locks to become first-round picks this weekend, and a bevy of other Buckeyes should be picked later in the draft, too.
Lettermen Row’s Spencer Holbrook, Andy Backstrom and Tim May are back for another breakdown, this time about the Buckeyes at the NFL Draft. Of course, it all starts with the insane chatter surrounding C.J. Stroud in the late stages of the pre-draft process. He has been attacked by media despite being one of the top players in the draft. The guys break it down.
The staff then talks about other Buckeyes players who will be successful at the next level after finding their first NFL homes this weekend.
Where is the best fit for each of the Buckeyes potential first-round picks? Which of the three projected first-round selections will be the best in the NFL in their long-term careers? And which late-round pick could be a sleeper for NFL teams after time at Ohio State?
The crew breaks it all down in the latest Lettermen Row video presented by Byers Auto! Watch here or on the Lettermen Row Youtube channel, and make sure to subscribe to that channel for more Buckeyes breakdown videos.
Why C.J. Stroud is smart choice for No. 1 overall pick
From Lettermen Row’s Andy Backstrom:
Stroud didn’t beat Michigan, win a Big Ten Championship or a College Football Playoff game. But his Ohio State career will be remembered for more than just his gaudy numbers.
Stroud wore his heart on his sleeve. Whether it be routinely expressing his faith, standing up for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba — who received heaps of criticism for not returning late in the 2022 season while nursing a nagging hamstring injury — or putting his body on the line in the Peach Bowl against Georgia, Stroud wasn’t afraid to take risks. He was unapologetically himself at Ohio State without making things about himself. Even at the combine, when he was asked about this past season’s shortcomings, he emphasized what the team, and not just he, accomplished.
Stroud missed only one game in his two years as the Buckeyes’ starter. He separated his AC joint in the 2021 season opener against Minnesota but still played against Oregon and Tulsa the following two weeks. Although the Buckeyes lost to the Ducks at home, Stroud wasn’t the issue — he threw for 484 yards while tossing three touchdowns and one interception. That performance marked the second-most passing yards in single-game program history, a record he later shattered in the Rose Bowl versus Utah. Stroud sat out the Akron game to heal up and then returned to jolt what turned out to be a 44-touchdown Heisman Trophy campaign.
