As underlying news of Bryce Young going No. 1 overall heats up, the microscope on C.J. Stroud has started to shift in the 2023 NFL Draft.
In some ways, it might be reverting to unnecessary and unfounded criticisms that will mean nothing in Stroud’s professional career. The latest comes from former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn.
A recent podcast saw Quinn discussing what he feels are drawbacks with one of the top quarterbacks of this draft class. Among his (bizarre) critiques were that Stroud not attending the Manning Passing Academy was some kind of referendum or significant red flag that proves he doesn’t belong in the NFL.
Report: CJ Stroud made a commitment to the Manning Passing Academy but “the night before he ghosted them and didn’t show up”, per @Brady_Quinn
"When you do that, that's gonna set up alarms for people."
Quinn noted that as one of three concerns with Stroud (h/t @PanthersAnalyst) pic.twitter.com/z2Y9gAPbFe
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 19, 2023
Current Miami Dolphin Jalen Ramsey and former NFL defensive back Ryan Clark caught wind of Quinn’s strange gossipy critique of Stroud. They were not happy, and they did not hold back how they blasted Quinn.
Fake story! Tryna beak a kid down before the draft is lame, especially for not going to a camp that I’m sure he wasn’t getting paid for & instead working with his teammates! Plus @Brady_Quinn , you was a bust, shut up! You shoulda went to a passing academy or 2!
God bless tho 🤟🏾 https://t.co/vUZDe57dO4— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) April 20, 2023
CJ Stroud never committed to attend the Manning camp.
He chose to work with his teammates at @OhioStateFB instead before his final season.
He wasn’t paid to go, & furthermore @Brady_Quinn what does acquiescing to the Manning family have to do with leading an organization?
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) April 20, 2023
This is an example of analyst like @Brady_Quinn telling stories of 0 value to diminish a man’s character while validating his own. Instead of dissecting film, or speaking to coaches an adult man stooped to gossip while analyzing. It’s an immature evaluation of football integrity https://t.co/3ijng1787q
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) April 20, 2023
Oh, man. Oh, MAN. It’s one thing to rightfully deride what Quinn said of Stroud. It’s another to pick it apart piece by piece as disingenuous, irrelevant, and something that adds little substance to an essential conversation about a bright young man’s professional future.
For what it’s worth, Quinn did try to defend himself, acknowledging that his comments might be a draft smokescreen. But he still regurgitated the opinion, which probably made the situation worse.
Did you want to acknowledge that he should be the second QB taken? Or are you only going to focus on the comments about “what we’re hearing are concerns”
— Brady Quinn (@Brady_Quinn) April 19, 2023
Draft analysts like Quinn should probably be a little more careful before, in the words of Clark, sharing “gossip” like this.
