Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud’s draft stock could be in jeopardy following his reported low score on a cognitive test, according to veteran NFL Draft analyst Bob McGinn.
The S2 cognition test measures reaction time, an essential quality for an NFL QB, and Stroud scored in the 18th percentile, well below the benchmark of 80.
In contrast, other potential first-round QBs scored much higher on the test, including Alabama’s Bryce Young, who scored in the 98th percentile.
While some teams may still consider Stroud because of his impressive college stats, the low test score could cause some teams to remove him from their draft board. In his mock draft, CBS Sports’ Will Brinson predicts Stroud will fall out of the top 10 and be selected by the Titans with the No. 11 overall pick
The S2 test differs from the Wonderlic, which the NFL uses to examine potential job performance. The S2 test is a 40-45 minute test that records reactions in two milliseconds, while the Wonderlic is a 50-question test
While a low test score could impact Stroud’s draft status, it’s worth noting that
successful NFL QBs, such as Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, scored within the 90th percentile on the S2 test. Bengals QB Joe Burrow, who revealed his S2 results, scored in the 97th percentile.
It remains to be seen how much the test score will impact Stroud’s draft stock, but with several teams in need of a QB, he’s likely still to be a first-round draft pick.
