Ohio State Football: C.J. Stroud over-performs in the NFL

Former Ohio State football player C.J. Stroud is exceeding in the NFL. Going into the 11th week of the NFL season Stroud has 2,600 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions.

C.J. Stroud was taken after Bryce Young in the 2023 NFL draft by the Texans. The Texans’ record last year was 3-13-1, compared to their record of 5-4 currently they seemed to have become a playoff-caliber team now. Who to thank of course other than Stroud for this. Not just for his quarterback skills though.

Stroud told the Texans right after he got drafted that he wanted Tank Dell on the team as well. So far Tank Dell has gotten about 500 receiving yards with 5 touchdowns. He has become a player Stroud trusts to throw to, and this bond will continue to grow. The Texans currently have a 52% chance of making the playoffs, this is a huge boost from being at an astonishing 0.07% this time last year.

When comparing Stroud’s stats to some of the best quarterbacks in the league you can see similarities. Stroud has 2,600 passing yards, 15 TDs, and 2 INTs. Patrick Mahomes has 2,400 passing yards, 17 TDs, and 8 INTs. Lamar Jackson has 2,400 passing yards with 12 TDs and 5 INTs. And finally, Josh Allen is sitting with 2,600 passing yards, 19 TDs, and 11 INTs. As you can see stat-wise wise C.J. is on the same level as these three quarterbacks. Plus to add to this it is easily argued that Stroud has less talent around him than these other quarterbacks do.

This raises a question, however, could Stroud win an MVP in his rookie year? Short answer, he’s deserving, but no. Stroud may be putting up the same amount as stats but at the end of the day, he won’t win MVP. The last rookie to win the MVP award was Jim Brown all the way back in 1957. However, he has to be a lock for him to win either Offensive Rookie of the Year or maybe Offensive Player of the Year. Hopefully, Stroud has a chance to win the MVP next year because he is already within the top 10,(possibly higher) of all quarterbacks within the league.

Stroud is the first true Ohio State quarterback. The closest ones to him are Art Schlichter and Mike Tomczak. C.J. Stroud could end the streak of Ohio State football quarterbacks failing at the next level.