The Houston Texans grabbed former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft Thursday night.
Taking Stroud allows for the Texans to shore up their quarterback position. There is a clear answer as to who they will build around offensively, and Houston fans can look forward to presumably stellar play under center for at least the next four years.
According to Doug Farrar from the Touchdown Wire, who wrote a complete breakdown of Stroud, the former Buckeye signal caller seems to compare best with former St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.
NFL Comparison: Sam Bradford. We’re talking about the Bradford who would light up NFL fields occasionally with good-not-great velocity, easy movement, and ridiculous ball placement, not the Bradford who unfortunately couldn’t stay healthy. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Bradford had the same kinds of easy ball placement and velocity, as well as surprising mobility, that make Stroud such a compelling prospect.
The problem with Bradford was his health. The former Oklahoma quarterback started and played in 49 games of a possible 80 from 2010-14. With that much time missed, it robbed Bradford of one of the best teachers in pro football: playing time.
Bradford’s rookie season was optimistic as the Rams went from a 1-15 squad in 2009 to a 7-9 team that lost a play-in game in Week 17 at the Seattle Seahawks. Stroud could have the same effect on the Texans as a rookie, and Clutch City sports fans hope a lengthier career.
