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Colts 7-round 2023 NFL mock draft 2.0: Weapons for a rookie quarterback

By Pacey Strickland

PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 07: Trey Palmer #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in action against Desmond Igbinosun #4 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a game at SHI Stadium on October 7, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PISCATAWAY, NJ - OCTOBER 07: Trey Palmer #3 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in action against Desmond Igbinosun #4 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a game at SHI Stadium on October 7, 2022 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 31: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Scouting Report. QB. 4. player. CJStroud. 46. Pick Analysis. Ohio State

The Indianapolis Colts draft quarterback CJ Stroud in the first round (fourth overall)

To begin the draft, the Chicago Bears took wideout Quentin Johnston. That seems extremely unlikely, but it took place in the mock draft simulator. It is likely though that the Bears would not take a quarterback with the first pick. The Houston Texans, however, did take a quarterback with the second-overall pick. The Texans selected quarterback Bryce Young from Alabama.

In this scenario, the Colts just need to take the best quarterback on the board. CJ Stroud is without a doubt one of the top two quarterbacks in this draft class. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 218 pounds, Stroud has the best build of any quarterback in this year’s draft. Stroud also has the ability to make throws into a small window and air it out down field. He brings a lot to the table to say the least.

Stroud’s college resume is hard to deny. As a two-year starter, he threw for 85 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. Stroud has been a Heisman finalist twice, a second and third-team All-American, and a two-time first-team All-Big Ten quarterback. Stroud was also just a few plays away from leading his team to the National Championship. Set to be 21 years old at the start of next season, Stroud answered many of his critics in the playoffs this year.

The main knocks against Stroud are his footwork and overall consistency as a passer. A lot of that has to do with wasted movement in the pocket, which is something that can be fixed at the next level. Stroud has also struggled while throwing under pressure in the past, but he dominated Georgia which had the most dominant pass rush in the country.

With any young quarterback, his performance is largely going to depend on which coaches and players the team can put around him. Indy still has not hired their head coach, but if the Colts make the right choice and put the right pieces around Stroud, he can be a special player.

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