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Las Vegas Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: A perfect scenario?

By Khaled Abdallah

Dec 8, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels (left), owner Mark Davis (center) and general manager Dave Ziegler talk before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels (left), owner Mark Davis (center) and general manager Dave Ziegler talk before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rolls out in the first half 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)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Ohio State Buckeyes rolls out in the first half 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) /

Raiders 7-round 2023 NFL Mock Draft: CJ Stroud in the Silver and Black

7. player. 812. . Quarterback. Buckeyes . CJ Stroud

CJ Stroud is an interesting case study of preconceived notions and biases that people have about quarterbacks. Despite whatever he’s done at the college level, many believe that he will be a bust simply because he went to Ohio State and they have produced no elite QBs in a very long time.

The success of Justin Fields may change that tune in the future but for now that’s a widely held belief.

The other concern about Stroud is that his success is based on the NFL-level talent that he played with but for whatever reason, that was not a concern when teams took Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield at the top of the draft. Perhaps those are bad examples but other top QBs played with elite talent at the college level and that hasn’t negatively impacted their careers.

What Stroud does well is everything you’re looking for in a traditional pocket passer. He is big and strong enough to hold up in the pocket but not too big to the point where he is a total stiff. Scouts rave about his accuracy, intelligence, and arm strength as he showed all of that in his last two years with the Buckeyes.

Fans saw his toughness on full display in the CFP against eventual champions Georgia and he even flashed some of that mobility that he showed more of in 2022 than in ’21. Stroud’s last recorded 40 time was 4.7 so he is not blowing anyone away with his speed but is fast enough to move outside the pocket and pick up first downs.

For reference, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes ran in the 4.7-4.8 range and both have no issues using their legs to extend plays and drives.

Stroud isn’t a perfect QB prospect and there are legitimate concerns about the offense he played in at OSU and the talent around him. However, he looks like the most pro-ready of the prospects and his 25 starts under his belt so has a decent amount of experience as well.

His numbers are astronomical at 8,123 yards, 85 TDs, 12 INTs, and a 69.3 completion percentage over the last two years. He has all of the traits you look for in an elite QB and the question is if the Raiders can bring out the best in him or not.

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