Florida Gators NFL Draft Preview: A chance to make school history

On3 imageby:Nick de la Torre•04/26/23•

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The 2023 NFL Draft is just days away and the Florida Gators will be well represented. In total. The Gators have 11 draft-eligible players from the 2023 roster and a chance to make school history.

If all 11 draft-eligible Gators are selected it would mark the most Florida Gators taken in a single draft in school history. The 1978 NFL Draft saw 10 Gators taken. That class included Wed Chandler at No. 3 overall. No Gator has been taken higher than third overall, a record Anthony Richardson has a chance of breaking.

Number of draft picksYear(s)
101978
91992, 2007, 2010
81957, 1976, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2021

Richardson will be in Kansas City for the draft where he hopes to hear his name called within the first several picks.

How to watch the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place from April 27 to April 29. 

  • Round 1: Thursday, April 27 at 8 p.m. E.T.
  • Rounds 2-3: Friday, April 28 at 7 p.m. E.T.
  • Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 29 at noon E.T.
  • NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes will provide coverage. 
  • The NFL Draft will have a couple of ways to stream the draft, including YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo TV and Sling TV. 

Draft eligible Gators

In alphabetical order

Amari Burney, Brenton Cox, Gervon Dexter, Trey Dean, Richard Gouraige, Ventrell Miller, Jordan Pouncey, Anthony Richardson, Justin Shorter, O’Cyrus Torrence, Rashad Torrence.

Projected draft ranges

Mock drafts are far from an exact science but this is generally where the Gators that are draft-eligible have been projected to be picked.

Anthony Richardson: 1st round, top-10 picks

O’Cyrus Torrence: Last 1st round to second round

Gervon Dexter: Second round.

Brenton Cox: Mid-to-Late rounds

Trey Dean: Late rounds

Ventrell Miller: Late rounds

Justin Shorter: Late rounds

Amari Burney: Late or UDFA

Richard Gouraige: Late or UDFA

Rashad Torrence: UDFA

Jordan Pouncey: UDFA

What they’re saying about Anthony Richardson

Dan Orlovsky on Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson

“Everybody has said, ‘accuracy issues’ — it’s not there! Maybe numerically, I could agree with that. But the tape does not say Anthony Richardson has accuracy issues. That was one game, I showed you three passes that would have gone over 100 yards and one of them was a touchdown. He’s the most talented player in this draft at the quarterback position, you take him at No. 2.”

NFL.com analytics expert Cynthia Frelund on a potential landing spot for Richardson

“I’m not suggesting the Seahawks should immediately replace veteran QB Geno Smith, who just signed an extension. Rather, Smith could be part of a long-term plan to develop Richardson for at least one season, if not longer. With two first-round picks, Seattle is among the teams in position to take a smart swing on Richardson’s upside. (The Colts, whose new head coach, Shane Steichen, created some magic for Hurts during his time as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, also look like a strong match, even if they might have to use the fourth overall choice on Richardson).” 

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