NFL

Report: Multiple NFL execs believe Anthony Richardson has highest upside of any QB in draft

Published by
Peter Dewey

There are multiple executives in the NFL that believe former University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson has the most upside of any quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“Multiple NFL executives told me Richardson has the highest upside of any QB in the draft,” NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe wrote. “At the combine, he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash (fourth-best among QBs since 2003) and recorded a 40.5-inch vertical jump (setting a QB record since ’03) and a 10-foot-9 broad jump (tying the QB mark in that span).

 

“Sources with knowledge of his results told me that Richardson scored in the ‘top-tier NFL starter’ range (between the 74th and 99th percentiles) on the S2 sports cognitive and processing test that 15 NFL teams use as a draft-evaluation data point, and that he also scored well on the AIQ, a separate mental analytics assessment. Further, he impressed multiple NFL teams in meeting rooms and on the whiteboard during this process, two team sources said.”

It’s interesting to see that some teams are so high on Richardson, especially since Bryce Young is heavily favored to be the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers when the draft begins on Thursday, April 27.

Richardson is a part of a loaded quarterback class that features Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker. There’s a chance all five players could be drafted in the first round on Thursday.

An extremely impressive athlete, Richardson appeared in 12 games for the Florida Gators last season. He completed 176 of his 327 pass attempts (53.8 percent) for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Richardson may not be the best pure passer in this year’s draft, but it is something he can develop in an NFL offense. That may be a reason why he is considered to have the most upside.

As a rusher in the 2022 season for Florida, Richardson carried the ball 103 times for 654 yards and nine touchdowns. As he showed at the combine, he has elite level speed that is rarely found at the quarterback position.

Compared to some previous seasons, this is a fairly deep quarterback draft. Young is a former Heisman Trophy winner, and Stroud has been one of the best college quarterbacks for multiple seasons.

Levis and Richardson appear to be the more unknown quantities, but Richardson clearly has some teams enamored with his physical gifts and impressive IQ.

There are several teams that could use a quarterback in the draft including the Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders and others.

It would be surprising not to hear Richardson’s name called on the first day of the draft, and it’s possible that he finds himself as a starting quarterback at some point in the 2023 season.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball, football and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

6 hours ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

1 day ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

2 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

4 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

5 days ago

LeBron James reflects on 2007 Cavs roster that he took to NBA Finals: ‘How is that possible?’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently reflected on the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers and their…

6 days ago