Gators 2023 NFL Draft Profile: QB Anthony Richardson

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson is slated to be one of the top selections in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Photo: Anthony Richardson; Credit: Alex Shepherd 

The 2023 NFL Draft is approaching, marking the peak of the professional football offseason. 

As NFL free agency cools down after the initial surge to fill spots of need, teams are solidifying their big boards for the eventful selection period set to take place from April 27-29.

Multiple University of Florida talents are in the midst of preparing for the draft process. Eight of the 11 entrants recently participated in the NFL Draft combine. They will finalize their athletic metrics at the school's recently announced Pro Day on March 30.

In anticipation, All Gators will provide player draft profiles for the 11 Florida representatives. The series will include the player's history, strengths, weaknesses, scouting report, best fit and most up-to-date Gators-centric mock draft selection.

We'll start with an all-but-solidified top-ten pick and an intriguing candidate to go No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Player History

Richardson was a one-year full-time starter at Florida who completed 53.8% of his passes for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions over 12 games in 2022. He added 654 yards and nine touchdowns (81 long) on 103 carries.

Choosing to remain in Gainesville for his collegiate career as a native of the city, Richardson was deemed a future hometown hero immediately upon his arrival on campus. However, clips of his vaunted athleticism and his chiseled 6-foot-4 frame, likened to Cam Newton, didn't help the initial wave of expectations set onto his shoulders.

He redshirted during his freshman season, only seeing time sparingly in the Cotton Bowl as the Gators were blown out by Oklahoma in Kyle Trask's last outing at UF.

In 2021, he worked in tandem with quarterback Emory Jones, drawing praise for his performances despite sparing time on the field as the second-fiddle in Dan Mullen's offense. He wowed in the early season slate with impressive runs against FAU and USF to open the year, establishing high expectations for his eventual future in orange and blue. 

However, despite Jones' struggles and Richardson's flashes, he only started one game for Florida as a true sophomore — partly due to the staff's loyalty to Jones and Richardson's inability to stay healthy. He dealt with a hamstring issue after pulling up lame on an 80-yard touchdown run against the Bulls in Tampa. He later tore his meniscus in the first half against FSU, although he remained in the game to lead the Gators to a victory over the in-state rival.

That injury required surgery which derailed a portion of his offseason. He played through numerous knicks and bruises in his redshirt sophomore campaign but never anything substantial enough to hold him out of action as it had previously.

In 2022 under Billy Napier, Richardson got his first chance as an unrivaled top quarterback.

An impressive outing in an upset win over Utah in The Swamp created Heisman buzz. He totaled three rushing touchdowns in that game, including an impressive scramble down the left sideline just before the half to give the Gators their first lead of the contest. He coupled it with a jump, pump and spin move on a two-point conversion to find Ja'Quavion Fraziars in the right corner of the end zone.

Both plays signaled potential stardom.

However, the wheels quickly fell off as he struggled against the likes of Kentucky and USF. His inconsistency as a passer from that point forward hampered Florida from reaching the heights it once thought were possible, with Richardson performing at an elite level.

The former four-star prospect showcased vital signs that he could be a legitimate star in the pros but simultaneously proved his inexperience and need for growth before operating at his peak.

Strengths

• Elite arm talent.
• Athleticism.
• Dynamic rushing ability.
• Pocket presence.
• Ability to throw off-platform.
• Improvisation.
• Prototypical build.
• Downfield accuracy.

Concerns

• Sporadic short-and intermediate-level accuracy.
• Decision making.
• Loose mechanics.
• Lack of touch.
• Durability.
• Overall inexperience.

Scouting Report

There's a lot to love about Anthony Richardson when mulling over options for the quarterback of the future.

Equipped with elite arm talent to fit balls into any spot on the field needed, supreme athleticism — breaking positional records for his combine performance — and abilities as a rusher, he's the perfect combination for a quarterback in the modern era of football.

On tape, Richardson arguably produced the most explosive highlight reel of any quarterback draftee since Lamar Jackson came out of Louisville in 2018. He used his legs to create chunk yardage runs with impressive vision, adding to the speed and agility he often used to outrun (or run through) would-be tacklers. 

He complemented that effort through the air with an impressive stretch of 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions in the final six contests, turning a corner from a decision-making perspective and becoming more consistent in his ball placement to wideouts during that span.

However, while his intangibles and progression surely wowed during his lone year as the unrivaled starter for the Gators, Richardson produced equal concerns. Most of which came as a true passer.

The major deterrent on Richardson lies within his inaccuracy in targeting the short and intermediate area of the field from the pocket consistently — although he targets 31 or more yards down the field better than any top quarterback in the class, according to Sports Information Systems (55.6% on target percentage on those throws). Many of those issues can be attributed to his default one-gear throwing style that inhibited his ability to layer throws at the three levels and the lack of rhythm created by his inconsistent mechanics.

The struggles for the latter are most apparent in his footwork, as wasted steps and hitches in the pocket disrupt timing and anticipation of the rhythm throws he's expected to make. He used his ability to throw off-platform to bail him out there while at Florida but he will need to improve to operate as an NFL squad's franchise quarterback.

Luckily for him, the majority of his flaws are deemed fixable, especially for a player as moldable as the soon-to-be 22-year-old. That bodes well for a potential top-five selection.

Given the attributes he possesses and the skills he displayed consistently at Florida, Richardson will continue to be a highly touted quarterback that draws admiration from scouts and prospective teams.

Best Fit(s)

There are multiple teams that Richardson would benefit from playing with, but they all have one thing in common: Offensive-minded head coaches with a history of developing young quarterbacks. Namely, in the range Richardson will be taken, the Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders pop out as viable landing spots. 

Indianapolis sits at No. 4 as it begins a new regime with Shane Steichen, whose credited with aiding the development of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to his breakout season in 2022. Raiders' head coach Josh McDaniels has had similar success with quarterbacks, although the team just signed one of his former New England projects, Jimmy Garoppolo, to take over for Derek Carr next season. 

While each franchise would bring different circumstances — consisting of trial-and-error as a likely week one starter versus being groomed for the limelight behind a seasoned veteran — they're conducive for necessary development upon arrival.

All Gators' final mock draft selections

April 26: Round 1, Pick 4 —  Indianapolis Colts

March 20: Round 1, Pick 4 — Indianapolis Colts

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