Anthony Richardson NFL Draft Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 236 pounds
School: Florida
Anthony Richardson 2023 NFL Draft Profile
Following his first full season as the starter, Anthony Richardson has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson is firmly a top-five quarterback in the class, and is in the running for the first quarterback off the board in April. The four star recruit out of Gainesville, Florida committed to the University of Florida and led the Gators to a 6-7 record in his red shirt sophomore season.
In 2022, Richardson finished with 2,549 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns to go with 654 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. Playing against the SEC and some of the best defenses in college football, Richardson elevated an otherwise lackluster Florida offense to a dangerous unit.
Strengths
- Not good arm strength. Great arm strength. Makes 60 yard passes look routine.
- Strong pocket footwork. Has a good feeling for where pressure comes from and moves away while keeping eyes downfield.
- Unreal athleticism for the quarterback position. Shifty in the open field as shown by his solid rushing numbers.
- Prototypical size, visible strength.
- Displays ability to read the field if given time in the pocket.
- Elite escapability. When changing from a passer to a runner runs with aggression, frequently bowled over SEC linebackers.
- Read option weapon. Can be the center point of a creative run first offense.
- Throws the ball away when it makes sense.
Weaknesses
- Will not take time to read field if rattled early.
- Will throw out of sacks with defenders draped on him. Regardless of situation, coverage or ball security.
- Inconsistent in coverage evaluations.
- Relies on physical gifts rather than trusting offense at times. Wants to work to the scramble drill early at times.
- Slides sparingly. Has a propensity to take hits for five extra yards in neutral situations.
NFL Comparison: Ben Roethlisberger with rocket shoes
Projection: Top-fifteen pick
Best Fit: Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, New York Jets, New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams
Bottom Line on Anthony Richardson
Draft twitter will be all over the place on Richardson. The tape shows two different quarterbacks. There’s the unstoppable quarterback who was reading the field, distributing the ball and using his legs as weapons in reserve against Tennessee. Then there was the quarterback who was running for his life and did not trust the offensive reads against Georgia. Some scouts will write him off as a “project quarterback” who needs to sit for multiple seasons before playing. Others will see his ability to read the field, anticipate openings and lead receivers to open areas when given the chance to operate his offense.
This pocket navigation is beautiful. The throw off platform, eye discipline, arm strength.
The Anthony Richardson breakdown coming Friday is going to be so fun.
— Landon Oliver (@Landon3MR) January 15, 2023
The good news for Richardson is that it only takes one team, and one scout to fall in love with him. In a class with no clear-cut quarterback one, Richardson’s physical gifts and build give him a chance to go as early as the top pick. The draft process will be good for Richardson, as the Florida offense did not build around him and squandered the college career of Dameon Pierce, so they clearly did not know how to manage their talent. Richardson has the build and strength of Derrick Henry, and an arm that can throw a strawberry through a battleship. He could set combine records for his position for athleticism and strength, and after Zach Wilson made a throw in shorts he went from a second round prospect to the number two overall pick.
"That's the throw of the Pro Day season right now."
Zach Wilson showing off 🤫
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/Xz2cWdlJV1
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 26, 2021
Richardson is going to make this throw look routine over the next four months, and is the steal of the draft for whichever team decides to take a swing on him.
Anthony Richardson Dynasty Outlook
The last piece that needs to be seen for Richardson is the draft capital. If he falls anywhere in the top fifty picks, he’s worth a first round rookie pick. He looks like Derrick Henry with a cannon for an arm, and is one of those talents that if he hits will break fantasy. No quarterback should feel safe with a prospect like Richardson on their team, and his passing ability is severely underrated. I haven’t felt this strongly about a quarterback since Lamar Jackson in 2018. Draft him early, draft him often, and never look back.
