Indianapolis Colts select Anthony Richardson in first round of 2023 NFL Draft
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson entered the NFL Draft viewed as one of the players with the highest ceilings and the largest upside. And the Indianapolis Colts’ chose to bet on that upside, selecting Richardson with the No. 3 pick overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft as their potential quarterback of the future.
The 2022 season served as Richardson’s one and only season as a full-time starter, where he threw for 2,549 yards on a 53.8% completion percentage for 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also got it done with his legs for the Gators, ending the season with 654 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, the second most on the team.
Richardson’s physical traits are his biggest draw, as he measured in at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds at this year’s NFL Combine. At the combine, Richardson ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, jumped a 40.5’’ vertical jump, a 10’ 9’’ broad jump, and showed off his impressive arm strength in the quarterback drill work. His athleticism at the quarterback position makes him a generational talent, but he’s still perceived by many as a raw player that will need his game refined and polished before being an NFL starter.
Richardson was a highly touted high school recruit ranked the No. 14 quarterback prospect and the No. 190 overall recruit out of Eastside high school in Florida in the 2020 class according to On3’s Industry Recruiting Rankings.
What NFL draft analysts are saying about Anthony Richardson
NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein broke down Anthony Richardson as an NFL Draft prospect ahead of this year’s draft. Zierlein compared Richardson to former Auburn quarterback and NFL MVP Cam Newton, and broke down the physical strengths he brings to the table along with the intricate areas of his game he’ll need to improve on entering the NFL.
“Dual-threat quarterback with an elite physical profile and a lot of work that needs to be done to reach a potentially high ceiling. Richardson’s frame, arm talent and mobility will demand respect as a potential first-round option. He has the ability to make plays on the move that very few of his NFL peers will be able to make,” Zierlein said. “However, but his accuracy on short and simple throws left much to be desired due, in part, to shoddy footwork and inconsistent rhythm. The footwork issues can be corrected, but the challenge will be determining whether he can be at least a functionally accurate passer at the next level. Richardson’s potential to strike with the deep ball, attack the secondary from sideline to sideline and gash teams with his legs creates greater leeway in his projection as a developmental prospect. Ultimately, he will succeed or fail based on his ability to play with better post-snap recognition and deliver the football with consistency.”