Insider names NFL Draft 'parachute slot' for C.J. Stroud

Fans may want to pump the figurative brakes regarding Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud possibly going to the Tennessee Titans on the opening night of the NFL Draft. 

For a piece published on Monday, ESPN draft guru Todd McShay said that the Detroit Lions could be the "parachute slot" for Stroud at pick No. 6 if the signal-caller falls out of the top-five choices. 

"He's a younger, less expensive version of Jared Goff with better physical traits, and if he's there, you bet the Lions would take a close look," McShay noted about Stroud. 

Interestingly, McShay added he has "not heard" Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson connected to Detroit in draft whispers. 

As of Monday afternoon, Kyle Stackpole of CBS Sports continued to predict in his mock draft that Detroit will trade with the Arizona Cardinals to move up to pick No. 3 and get Richardson.

The previously mentioned Goff recently enjoyed the best of his two seasons with Detroit and helped the club earn a 9-8 record this past campaign. 

While Goff turns just 29 years old in October, he is only signed through the 2024 season and acknowledged last week he hadn't yet entered contract extension negotiations with general manager Brad Holmes. 

Holmes, meanwhile, hinted ahead of this past weekend he could take a quarterback with pick No. 6. It's also believed Holmes could draft Georgia Bulldogs star defensive tackle Jalen Carter if Carter drops out of the top five for multiple reasons. 

McShay, ESPN's Matt Miller and NBC Sports' Peter King all explained over the past week why they think the Titans could move up in the draft order to keep Stroud from getting to the division-rival Indianapolis Colts at pick No. 4. 

However, six CBS Sports analysts believe the Colts will target either Richardson or Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis, and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said Monday he's heard Tennessee could trade down from pick No. 11 and not up to get Stroud. 

All of that could leave Stroud for the Lions this Thursday night.