The 2023 NFL Draft is just around the corner after a lengthy and in-depth process leading up to the first round of picks.

One of the major storylines for the past couple of weeks leading up to the draft has been the overall stock of Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud. Projected as a player likely to be selected No. 1 or No. 2 overall, his stock has taken a hit with betting odds projecting him to slide down the board a bit.

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Despite those projections, one NFL analyst has Stroud as the only QB in this year’s draft class to receive a first-round grade. That group of QBs includes likely No. 1 pick Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker.

The analyst is Merril Hoge, a former NFL analyst for ESPN who joined the Dan Patrick Show to discuss the major aspects he looks for in a QB:

“You’ve gotta process (and) decision-making. The process and decision-making aspect and accuracy have to be that combination,” explained Hoge. “If you don’t have that, you have a big problem, one of those things if you don’t have it is going to run you out of this league. (Stroud) does have it.”

While Hoge feels Bryce Young shares those traits, he went on to dissect how Stroud’s arm strength and durability outshine what Young brings to the table. Many analysts have praised Young for his creativity when plays break down, but Hoge believes Young doesn’t have the arm strength or durability to make throws from a dirty pocket in the NFL.

“How will they play in the environment that the NFL is going to create? The majority of throws in the NFL are going to come from a dirty collapsed pocket,” Hoge said. “They don’t have the luxury of being better than everybody else half the season. How do they function in that?

“When you look at that category, now the decision-making and accuracy aspect and arm strength come into play. CJ Stroud is strong, he’s dynamic. His ability to throw accurate-wise, he can attack every inch of the field. You take Bryce Young into that pocket-collapsing environment, he doesn’t have a big enough arm so he’s going to be limited in where he’s going to be able to throw. And he’s not the same quarterback, he can’t make those throws”

Regardless of Hoge’s assessment, Stroud and Young both appear to be locks as first-round selections Thursday night. As for their ultimate destinations, it will be interesting to see where they come off the board.