The deadline for underclassmen to declare their entry into the 2023 NFL draft comes Monday afternoon. The most prominent player who had yet to declare his intentions, Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud, took almost until the deadline to formally declare.
Stroud announced he will be in the 2023 NFL draft, forgoing his college eligibility for the Buckeyes. There were more than a few whispers that Stroud would remain in Columbus with the potential to earn more money from NIL agreements than he would in the NFL, but those proved to be just rumors.
It’s an important declaration for the Detroit Lions and the No. 6 overall pick. Stroud is almost universally projected to come off the board before the Lions pick and is in contention for the No. 1 overall spot. That pushes down another player to Detroit’s first selection that is a more realistic option for the Lions than taking Stroud themselves. Fans interested in Georgia D Jalen Carter or Alabama EDGE Will Anderson will find Stroud’s decision quite good news.
