Colts trade up for C.J. Stroud in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft

The Indianapolis Colts will be keeping a keen eye on the quarterback prospects at the NFL combine this week and chiefly among them will be Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.

Projected to be one of the first quarterbacks taken in the 2023 NFL draft, Stroud was the selection for the Colts in the latest mock draft from Mel Kiper of ESPN.

In his mock draft, the Houston Texans moved up to No. 1 in a trade with the Chicago Bears to select Alabama’s Bryce Young. Then, the Colts moved up two spots to the No. 2 pick in order to take Stroud.

“Over the past 25 years, the Colts have taken two quarterbacks in the first round: Peyton Manning, a Hall of Famer, and Andrew Luck, who was on a Hall of Fame track before he retired at age 29. Can they nail their quarterback pick again?

Stroud’s accuracy and arm strength are underrated, and his touch to all levels of the field is the best in this class. In Indianapolis, he would have a No. 1 wideout (Michael Pittman Jr.) and a top-tier running back (Jonathan Taylor). I don’t think the Colts are that far from contending in the AFC South. Stroud would give new coach Shane Steichen a jolt of energy to get this team back on track.”

This certainly would be an interesting proposition. While the Colts would potentially miss out on their top quarterback prospect if Houston takes the top spot, moving up to the No. 2 pick would likely allow them to keep their 2024 first-round selection.

Getting Stroud as a consolation prize isn’t too shabby either. While there are questions about his play under pressure and his creative skills outside the pocket, we’ve seen enough of a glimpse to know that Stroud can add those traits to his repertoire. He just didn’t do it often in college.

Beyond that, Stroud is a clean prospect. He’s incredibly accurate and is able to throw with impeccable anticipation to all levels of the field. He doesn’t have elite arm strength, but he can still deliver strikes deep outside the numbers.

While Steichen may thrive a bit better with a more mobile or creative quarterback, Stroud brings plenty to the table as a pocket passer to thrive under the new head coach’s direction.

The combine will play a major role in the Colts’ decision, especially considering this will be the time to interview as many prospects as possible.

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