CJ Stroud, the highly-touted quarterback prospect from Rancho Cucamonga, California, was drafted in the 2021 NFL Draft. Stroud was selected in the third round, with the 93rd overall pick, by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Stroud had a successful college career at Ohio State, where he was a two-year starter. He was a two-time Big Ten champion and was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2020. He also earned All-Big Ten honors in 2020 and was a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback.
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Stroud has the size and arm strength to be a successful NFL quarterback. He is also a mobile quarterback, which is a trait that is becoming increasingly important in the modern NFL.
The Bengals are hoping that Stroud can develop into a franchise quarterback. He will have the opportunity to learn from veteran quarterback Joe Burrow, who was the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Stroud is the first quarterback drafted by the Bengals since Burrow in 2020. He is the first quarterback from California to be drafted by the Bengals since Carson Palmer in 2003.
The Bengals are hoping that Stroud can develop into a franchise quarterback and help the team return to the playoffs. He will have the opportunity to learn from Burrow and the Bengals’ coaching staff, and he will have the chance to compete for the starting job in the near future.
Only time will tell if Stroud can develop into a successful NFL quarterback, but the Bengals are certainly hoping that he can be the franchise quarterback they have been searching for.
