Why C.J. Stroud doesn't want to be picked first overall by Justin Fields' Chicago Bears
C.J. Stroud wears No. 7 in part for Michael Vick, who was the first Black quarterback to be drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 2001. But the Ohio State quarterback said he doesn't have a desire to stand on the draft stage in those same shoes this April.
At least with how things stand for now with the Chicago Bears holding the No. 1 pick.
Stroud spoke with the media on Friday at the NFL combine and said that he has no desire to be a part of the team. He said that he has too much respect for quarterback Justin Fields, who came close to breaking Lamar Jackson's single-season rushing record last year.
"I don't want to go there," he said. "That's his team. I can do my thing. I gotta go build my legacy and I know he's rooting me. He texted me yesterday morning. So me and him are brothers for life."
C.J. Stroud praises Justin Fields
Fields, a fellow Buckeye, was hampered by injury throughout the 2022 season, his second in the league. He still managed to start 15 games where he threw for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns with 11 interceptions and ran for 1,143 yards and eight scores.
OPINION: The Bears would be so stupid to trade Justin Fields instead of the No. 1 draft pick
CONFIDENCE: Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud says 'I've been the best player in college football'
"I was proud of him. There's so many times you get knocked back down, but I feel like a true man's character is when you get knocked down, how do you get up?" Stroud shared. "And he's got up every time and he's stepped up to the plate and he hasn't blamed anybody, he hasn't pointed no fingers. He hasn't anything. And as a human, that just shows you what type of man he is. ...
"And he ain't no damn running back. He's a quarterback. He can sling that rock. So I'mma stand up for my brother every time. He's able to do great things in his career and I'm excited to play with him."
What the Chicago Bears have said about commitment to Justin Fields
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has had high praise for Fields, saying he has "great confidence" in him and expects him to continue growing.
"We saw the growth that he had a year ago to where he's at now," Getsy said last month at the Senior Bowl. "He still has a long way to go as far as where we want him to be and he knows that. Nobody works harder than Justin. The kind of guy he is and the kind of leader he is, I am really excited to see what he is doing this coming season."
BIG DECISION: Bears doing their 'due diligence' at top of 2023 NFL draft: 'You have to investigate everything'
The team has not expressed their long-term commitment to Fields. General manager Ryan Poles said he is weighing his options with the top pick in the draft.
"When you sit in our situation at one overall, you have to do your due diligence, you have to investigate everything," he said Tuesday at the NFL combine.
C.J. Stroud believes he's 'the best player in college football'
There is debate over whether Stroud or Alabama quarterback Bryce Young will be taken off the board first at the draft. The Houston Texans have the No. 2 pick and are in need of a quarterback. The Bears could also trade the No. 1 pick to a team who needs someone under center.
Despite not wanting to be selected first overall to Chicago, Stroud still holds that he's "been the best player in college football two years in a row. I think I’ve consistently done that."