CJ Stroud reportedly no-showed the Manning Passing Academy ahead of this month’s NFL Draft, leading to concerns from one former NFL quarterback.
On the “Pick Six Podcast,” Fox Sports analyst and former Cleveland Browns first-round pick Brady Quinn revealed that Stroud ghosted the Manning family after pledging he’d attend the camp, which was founded by Archie Manning and is currently directed by Peyton, Eli and Cooper Manning.
“I’ve been told that he committed to [the Manning Passing Academy] the night before, [and] just kind of ghosted them, didn’t show up,” Quinn said. “That’s football royalty. And when you do that, that’s going to set off some alarms for people like, ‘Hey man, that’s not how you conduct yourself, especially around the Manning family, or just in general if you’re going to be a franchise quarterback.’”
Quinn still expressed some confidence in Stroud’s talents during the episode despite his concerns.
“He’s the most accurate quarterback in this draft class, he showcased his athleticism ability,” Quinn said. “Any time I’ve been around the kid, he’s been an upstanding young man who’s grown and matured into a leader I think NFL teams are looking for.”
Stroud was supposed to be a counselor at the event, which took place in late June, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Stroud, a two-time Heisman Trophy finalist while at Ohio State, is widely seen as a likely top-five pick in the draft.
He threw for 3,688 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his passes last season for the Buckeyes.
At times this spring, Stroud was favored to go No. 1 overall before Alabama quarterback Bryce Young overtook him on oddsmakers’ boards.
The 2023 NFL Draft starts Thursday, April 27.
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