With the 2022 NFL Draft officially in the books, the 2023 is unofficially on the clock.
Speculation is already churning about next year's crop of talent, and, unlike this year, quarterbacks are expected to feature heavily in the early going.
In fact, one of them could well be the top selection, according to Todd McShay of ESPN.com (subscription required).
That would be Ohio State signal-caller CJ Stroud -- going to the Houston Texans, based on inverted Super Bowl odds.
The incoming redshirt sophomore put up huge numbers last season, completing nearly 72% of his passes for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and just six interceptions. The impressive showing was good enough for fourth place in Heisman Trophy balloting.
Stroud, a California native, was surrounded by NFL-caliber talent in the passing game, with two of his top targets -- wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave -- going back-to-back in the first round last week. Tight end Jeremy Rucker also went in the third round.
Another of Stroud's favorite targets, wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, remained in Columbus, however, and is projected by McShay to go fourth overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Of course, the usual caveats apply a full calendar year and full season ahead of the draft. At various points after last year's draft, each of Sam Howell and Spencer Rattler were projected No. 1 overall picks. Howell fell to the Commanders in the fifth round last week, while Rattler has since transferred from Oklahoma to South Carolina.
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