I know, I know, you don’t want to even think about the NFL draft until we turn the page on the Ohio State football season and whatever story the Buckeyes write in the 2022 College Football Playoff.
But still, there is a slew of OSU players we get to watch do their best work at the highest level in the game and you can bet that we’ll see more Ohio State players hear their names called when the 2023 NFL draft takes center stage in Kansas City in late April.
One of the most followed and well-respected NFL draft analysts out there is ESPN’s Todd McShay and he just dropped his latest early first-round mock NFL draft (subscription required) for the 2023 cycle. As you would expect, Ohio State is again well-represented with three stars expected to pick up the phone and receive the good news either in the green room or at another place to celebrate.
Here are the three Ohio State players McShay has projected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft as we head toward the end of 2022.
C.J. Stroud, Quarterback
What Todd McShay Projects
Overall Pick | No. 4
Team | Detroit Lions
Paris Johnson Jr., Offensive Tackle
What Todd McShay Projects
Overall Pick | No. 9
Team | Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wide Receiver
What Todd McShay Projects
Overall Pick | No. 22
Team | Tennessee Titans
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