Anthony Richardson Mock Draft Roundup: Florida QB's Projected Landing Spots

Which team will select Florida QB Anthony Richardson in the NFL Draft? All Gators gathered 10 mock drafts from reputable outlets offering best guesses ahead of the selection ceremony.

Photo: Anthony Richardson; Credit: Zach Goodall

NFL Draft week is finally upon us. The long-contemplated question, "Which team will select [insert prospect name here]?" will be answered in the coming days. 

Draftniks, fans of quarterback-needy pro teams and Florida Gators faithful alike will continue to ask about the ideal landing spot for a specific player until his name is called: Quarterback Anthony Richardson. 

One of if not the draft's most polarizing prospect this year, Richardson is an athletic wonder at quarterback with just one season of starting experience in college under his belt, a year that featured its share of ups and downs. 

Richardson's Dec. 2022 declaration for the draft led to some head-scratching after his 6-6 campaign as UF's QB1 in 2022. He completed just 53.8% of his passes for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 12 games, although he added 654 yards and nine scores on the ground. 

His dazzling performance at the NFL Combine — including quarterback-record-breaking 40.5-inch vertical and 129-inch broad jumps and a 4.43-second 40-yard dash result — soothed those itches. So did the routine deep tosses Richardson made look easy throughout his throwing circuit at Florida's Pro Day in March. 

Richardson may not boast an on-field résumé similar to quarterback prospect Bryce Young of Alabama and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State, but the untapped potential he can offer an NFL offense is unlike that of any passer in this draft or in recent memory. 

As a result, Richardson is considered a consensus first-round prospect in the upcoming draft. But which team will take a chance on his unique skill set? That is much tougher to predict. 

All Gators has gathered ten recent mock draft projections from reputable outlets to offer a compilation of best guesses from across the NFL Draft media landscape before the first round begins on Thursday, Apr. 27 at 8 p.m. ET.  

Projections are listed in descending order relative to Richardson's mock draft selection. 

The Athletic's Dane Brugler: Indianapolis Colts, first round, No. 4 overall

Like the Texans, the Colts shouldn’t be considered locks to select a quarterback in the top five this year. It would be understandable, however, if Indianapolis decides Richardson is worth the risk. There’s been so much talk about Richardson’s ceiling, but with his size, mobility and general feel as a passer, I am encouraged by Richardson’s floor as an NFL QB. His development mentally will decide that ceiling.

CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson: Indianapolis Colts, first round, No. 4 overall

Richardson was pretty impressive at his pro day; he's built like a defensive end, runs like a power back and can throw the football 80 yards and make it look easy. His athleticism and arm strength leave a lasting impression when you see him in person, as does the effortlessness with which he plays. But what he has in God-given ability, he lacks in experience, so his best landing spot at the next level will be to a team with a veteran quarterback who can man the reins for another year or two until he's ready to take the next step. And if managed properly, that next step could truly be special.

Note: This mock draft was conducted with Wilson's opinion of which prospects each franchise should select in mind, not necessarily players the author believes teams will select. 

The Ringer's Danny Kelly: Indianapolis Colts, first round, No. 4 overall

This might be the Colts’ dream scenario: getting Richardson without even having to trade up. Richardson’s raw—he started just 13 games in his college career—but with elite athletic traits and an underrated feel for passing from the pocket, he brings an immeasurably high ceiling to Indianapolis. New head coach Shane Steichen can design a development plan similar to the one the Eagles rolled out for Jalen Hurts, making Richardson a big part of the run game early on while giving him some time to hone his craft as a passer.

Note: Kelly updates his mock draft on one web page and his projections are subject to change. The above reference is from Kelly's Apr. 19 update.

NFL Network's Peter Schrager: Seattle Seahawks, first round, No. 5 overall

The Seahawks love Geno Smith, and there's no doubt he's the man for 2023. But with two picks in the top 20, they can go with a quarterback here -- after all, they surely don't plan on picking in the top five again anytime soon. If another QB-needy team doesn't leapfrog them, the 'Hawks can secure a signal-caller for the future. Seattle has time to get Richardson in the room with coordinator Shane Waldron so that he can learn the offense.

ESPN's Matt Miller: Las Vegas Raiders, first round, No. 7 overall

The Raiders brought in Jimmy Garoppolo, but he turns 32 this season, hasn't been the picture of health and signed for the middle-of-the-road money. Richardson is a talent-rich prospect with limited experience (13 starts) in a non-pro-style offense, but his elite size, arm strength and running ability -- he has two rushing touchdowns of more than 80 yards -- are simply too tempting to pass on without a true franchise quarterback in place. And Garoppolo's injury history could open the door for Richardson to see meaningful playing time in his rookie season while learning on the job.

PFF's Mike Renner: Atlanta Falcons, first round, No. 8 overall

The Falcons are assembling an all “off the bus” team in Atlanta, and Richardson is the final piece. He’s immediately a Tier 1 rushing threat at the quarterback position for the NFL's run-heaviest team. 

NFL Network's Chad Reuter: Minnesota Vikings, first round, No. 10 overall (TRADE)

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has not been shy about trading draft picks since taking on the job last year. Richardson's potential as a dual-threat playmaker validates the hefty price Minnesota pays to jump up the board: the 23rd overall pick, a 2023 third-rounder (No. 87) and a 2024 first-rounder. (The Vikings also probably trade down in the fourth round to regain a selection.)

Note: Interestingly, Reuter projected Florida guard and Richardson's former teammate O'Cyrus Torrence to come off the board with the next pick, to the Tennessee Titans at No. 11 overall.

USA Today's Nate Davis: Tennessee Titans, first round, No. 11 overall

Ryan Tannehill is entering the final year of his contract, and Malik Willis did little to inspire confidence from the fans or coaches in 2022. Enter the self-styled "Cam Jackson," who blew up the combine as a bit of a [Cam] Newton-Lamar Jackson hybrid. At 6-4, 244 pounds, Richardson blazed a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and hit combine quarterback records with a vertical jump of 40½ inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches. So though he's lacking in experience (13 starts for the Gators), Richardson's physical tools – to include a bazooka of an arm that was also on full display – are tantalizing. And similar to Jackson, Richardson could benefit from breaking in behind Tannehill while maybe seeing the field in specially designed packages ... given the reasonable assumption the 21-year-old won't be ready to start immediately.  

NY Daily News' Pat Leonard: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, first round, No. 19 overall

No one knows exactly how high the athletic Gators QB will go. If he’s still on the board, Tampa’s only QBs at the moment are Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask.

NBC Sports' Peter King: Minnesota Vikings, first round, No. 23 overall

Easily could go earlier—as high as four to Indianapolis. But the Vikings would be an intriguing spot for the raw Richardson. Kirk Cousins has one playoff win in five Vikings seasons. The math is not in Cousins’ favor. This is year six. He’ll have made $185 million as a Viking, and will be seeking $45 million-plus to re-sign after this season to be sure, guaranteed. Who would be surprised if the Vikings wanted to start fresh in 2024 if this is another one of those years?

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All Gators will also reveal its final, seven-round, Gators-centric mock draft this week before the event begins.

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