Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Paris Johnson Jr. stump for CJ Stroud as No. 1 overall pick ahead of 2023 NFL Draft

On the red carpet at the 2023 NFL Draft, former Ohio State stars Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Paris Johnson Jr. weren’t bringing any inside info other than years of playing with C.J. Stroud. And that was enough to have them confident they would take him No. 1 overall in the draft if they were picking.

Speaking with ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge, Smith-Njigba was adamant that Stroud should go No. 1 overall. And while the Carolina Panthers are likely to take former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, maybe they should be listening to the former Ohio State stars.

 “Where do I think? I think No. 1. At least he should,” Smith-Njigba said. “If I was picking —”

“You all know he’s going first,” Johnson said, interjecting. “He’s going first.”

Smith-Njigba continued on his general stump speech for Stroud, and he snuck in a good word for Johnson.

“Wherever he goes, a team is honored to have him. They’re lucky enough to have these guys. They’re going to be excellent,” Smith-Njigba said. “I don’t know anything, but I know that they’re going to be excellent in the league.”

For his part, Stroud said that he’s not very nervous about what happens to him tonight.

He explained that he has done all the work he can and unlike when he chose where to play college football, this time the decision isn’t his to make.

“I just feel like I don’t have to make no hard decisions. Like, picking my college was tough because I could’ve made a wrong decision. For me, I did everything in my control like the combine, the pro day, the interview process, the 30 visits — all that, I feel like I did a good job. So now it’s just sit back and wait, who wants to decide to make me their franchise quarterback. So that’s what I’m really excited about. But like Jaxon said, it’s a blessing to be up here with my teammates, man. Wouldn’t be here without neither one of them,” Stroud said.

Stroud addressed the possibly being drafted No. 2 by Houston Texans

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah projects Stroud to be a Houston Texan before the night is over, but it’s really up in the air until the pick is in. Even so, Stroud wants to be a Houston Texan if they’re willing to take their chances on him with the second overall pick.

“It sounds great. Whatever God wants for my life, I’m willing to be, and to do so I’m really excited for this next chapter in my life,” Stroud said on the NFL Network on Thursday. “Whatever city, whichever team — I’m going to be a really hard worker and a man of God, and to be a great leader.”