C.J. Stroud is suddenly a heavy favorite to be drafted No. 1 after Panthers trade

Move over, Bryce Young.

The Carolina Panthers think their franchise quarterback is in the 2023 NFL Draft. You don’t give up the haul they did to acquire the top overall pick from the Chicago Bears if you think otherwise.

The only question is which of the top quarterbacks in this year’s class is the one they believe in most.

Well, it appears we have an answer. And no, it’s not Bryce Young, the player who’s been favored to go No. 1 overall since draft odds were made available. It’s C.J. Stroud, the Heisman finalist whose No. 1 odds held decent value at second-best but shot through the roof immediately after the trade.

Just look at that massive leap, from +180 to -425 at DraftKings. They’ve since leveled out at around -350.

Just last Sunday, Stroud’s odds had dipped to +450 amid the Anthony Richardson combine hype.

Imagine if you were able to snatch his odds at that time. You’d be feeling pretty great about your money right about now.

Stroud’s leap comes from a sense around the league that he’ll be the player of choice for the Panthers and new head coach Frank Reich.

Of course, nothing is set in stone, so we’ll still have to wait and see — Bryce Young’s odds are looking mighty scrumptious. But the top of draft seems to be crystallizing a bit more.

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