Is there any prospect more polarizing than Anthony Richardson?! The roller coaster that has been his pre-draft experience has been a nauseating one, with lots of highs and lows. The highs mostly stem from the fact that this Florida quarterback tested as a literal historic athlete. The lows? Well, we'll get to those in a bit.
Anthony Richardson scouting report
Position: Quarterback
School: Florida (Redshirt Sophomore)
Measurables: 6'3, 244 pounds
The TLDR; The team that selects Anthony Richardson is drafting a one-of-a-kind athlete who absolutely destroyed the NFL Combine. Seriously — take a look at how he performed and his percentile ranks among other quarterbacks. Warning: The following chart may make your brain explode.
Are you not amazed? He's a large quarterback with the speed and explosion of a much smaller human, and it translates to big plays all over the football field. In an era where mobile quarterbacks are flourishing, he's He's also got a cannon for an arm — arm strength for days — and as such, can throw a pretty nice deep ball.
So, what's not to like about this guy? There are a few red flags that could potentially hurt his draft stock, the first being his lack of accuracy. According to the 2023 PFF Draft Guide, he had the seventh-highest uncatchable pass rate in the nation over the last two seasons (28.2%). In his only season as a full-time starter at Florida, he completed just 53% of passes, ranking 34th among 36 FBS quarterbacks (minimum 100 pass attempts).
Another more general concern is his lack of experience. Richardson has attempted just 400 pass attempts in his collegiate career, which means he doesn't have as many live game reps, meaning fewer opportunities to read opposing defenses. Practice does make perfect, of course, but there's just truly no substitute for live-game action.
His mobility will undoubtedly raise his floor in the NFL, but if he's going to be in it for the long haul, he'll have to make HUGE strides as a passer — sooner rather than later — but without a doubt, he has all the tools to make the jump with the right support and more experience under his belt!
Anthony Richardson highlights to make you drool
3 facts you probably didn't know about Anthony Richardson
Anthony Richardson can apparently throw a football sixty yards with TWO FEET PLANTED like it's nothing.
He's a big family guy. <3 You love to see it. He cites helping raise his little brother in a single-parent household as a reason he brings "maturity beyond his years" to the table for whatever team drafts him.
If selected in the first round (he will be!), he'll be the first quarterback since Tim Tebow to be drafted in the first round out of Florida. Tebow went 25th overall to the Denver Broncos in the 2010 draft. Here's a picture of them training together a few years back, courtesy of Richardson's insta!
How does Anthony Richardson fit the Colts?
Well, there's no more leaning on vet QBs. It's onto the young dude with tons of potential. If the Colts can get the growth needed out of Richardson, this man could be an MVP candidate. If not, it's a bad choice. Lot of way this could go wrong, lot of ways this could go right. Pretty sure Indy is selecting here next year as well...
