By Zachary Lee

“Who should be the number one overall pick in the NFL draft” is a question frequently debated among football fans. With the draft rapidly approaching, these debates are quickly heating up. The Chicago Bears originally owned the top pick in the upcoming draft but that changed when the Carolina Panthers made a blockbuster trade. This trade consisted of the Panthers acquiring the number one overall pick in exchange for star receiver DJ Moore, the number 9 overall pick, and multiple other draft picks from this year's draft and future drafts. The Panthers are in desperate need for a quarterback after spending years with a huge question mark at the position. It seems as though the selection will come down to Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. I believe that CJ Stroud should be the guy for the team located in the Queen City.

CJ Stroud has a great frame for a quarterback. He stands at 6’3, 218 pounds which is much more ideal than Bryce Young who stands at 5' 10, 194 pounds. Panthers head coach Frank Reich historically prefers quarterbacks with a taller frame to run his offenses. This is evident when looking at Frank Reich’s starting quarterbacks while he was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2022. Andrew Luck (6’4), Jacoby Brissett (6’4), and Carson Wentz (6’5) are some examples of this. CJ Stroud fits this build. Now don’t get me wrong, shorter and smaller quarterbacks can still succeed in the NFL but it’s much less common. Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burow, Josh Allen, and Trevor Lawrence, who are considered some of the best young quarterbacks in the game, all stand at 6’2 or taller.

Another huge positive to Stroud's game is his prolific passing ability. Last season Stroud posted a 66.3% completion percentage with 3,688 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns and 6 interceptions. His 2021 campaign consisted of him throwing for 4,435 yards, 44 passing touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Those are pretty elite numbers. In addition to his in-season numbers, Stroud put on a fantastic showing at Ohio State football’s pro day, completing 44 of 51 passes. That’s good for a 86.3% completion percentage.

CJ Stroud is the type of quarterback who lives for big games and being placed in pressure filled situations. He is someone that you want leading your offense when there’s a lot on the line. At the end of the 2021 season, Ohio State got the honor of playing Utah in the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl is a college football tradition and pits one of the best Big 10 teams and one of the best Pac 12 teams against each other. Stroud put on a show for the fans in Pasadena. 573 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns and a QBR of 98.3 in a 48-45 Buckeye win over the Utes. The 2022 season was a really good one for Ohio State as they finished the regular season with a 11-1 regular season record and even clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2019. However, they drew a tough playoff matchup against the defending national champions and the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs. Even though Ohio State lost this game, Stroud played his heart out. He threw for 348 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions and posted a QBR of 94.1 against the nation's best defense.

A lot of NFL experts believe that Bryce Young should be the number one overall selection in this year's draft. However, Bryce Young’s frame at 5’10, 194 pounds scares me. Being a shorter quarterback can bring about injury concerns. Having a shorter and skinnier frame can make you more susceptible to getting hurt after taking hits.Taking Bryce Young could be a risk because of increased injury proneness due to his size.

Mock drafts are very popular during draft season. When you’re making your next one, make sure to project CJ Stroud as the number one overall selection. His size, arm and ability to compete in high pressure situations make him the perfect fit for the Carolina Panthers.