Anthony Richardson's Rise Sets Precedent For Joe Milton III

The Indianapolis Colts jumped to take Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson at No. 4 overall, which sets a precedent for Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III.

The NFL Draft process comes complete with rules and guidelines for what teams can and can't do, and evaluators often abide by those sacred, unspoken precepts. However, it only takes one organization to buck a trend, and the Indianapolis Colts did that on Thursday by selecting Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson at No. 4 overall.

Richardson is one of the most polarizing prospects in recent memory. He has all the tools to become an All-Pro level passer, standing at 6-4 and 231 pounds with dominant athleticism and physicality. He resembles Cam Newton coming out of Auburn, where it feels like Richardson is on a different athletic playing field. However, he never reached the heights that Newton did at Auburn.

Richardson had consistent mechanical deficiencies in his lone season of starting action that led to inaccuracies. Florida also went through a down season, something that reflected the talent around Richardson. The Gators didn't give him much to work with, but the raw talent became overwhelming the deeper into the process we got.

The Carolina Panthers took Alabama quarterback Bryce Young at No. 1 overall, and the Houston Texans followed that by nabbing Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud at No. 2 overall. Those two felt like relatively safe, clean evaluations with a lot of upside, but you are likely only getting two of those quarterbacks each cycle, and even then, they aren't guaranteed to work out.

The third quarterback is usually the cutoff point in the NFL Draft. It's where things either get really good or really bad; the Buffalo Bills took quarterback Josh Allen at No. 7 overall in 2018, making him the third quarterback taken. That decision has positively altered the next 10+ years of their franchise. Conversely, the Denver Broncos took Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch at No. 26 overall in 2016, the third quarterback off the board. That move sent the Broncos into a tailspin trying to find their franchise quarterback, a battle that lasted for years.

The top two passers in the 2024 NFL Draft seem set. USC quarterback Caleb Williams and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye have separated themselves from the pack and already have decision-makers antsy. The treasured third quarterback spot is still open, and several candidates could fill the role.

• Bo Nix, Oregon
• Carson Beck, Georgia
• Jayden Daniels, LSU
• Joe Milton, Tennessee
• Michael Penix Jr., Washington
• Quinn Ewers, Texas

All own different claims to be the preseason No. 3 signal caller, but the most physically gifted passer is Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III. He stands 6-5 and 245 pounds with one of the biggest arms in the sport. Milton doesn't have the same athletic measurables as Richardson, but he's big enough and quick enough to make defenders miss in the NFL.

A franchise must believe in the person they are drafting to take a gamble on traits in the first round. Richardson impressed Indianapolis with his maturity and poise in operating under pressure in various settings. Milton has clearly invested a lot of time into becoming a vocal presence for Tennessee, and the spring game confirmed that the program's weight is riding on his shoulders.

Of course, Milton must perform before any of this is applicable. Though Richardson and Florida didn't deliver consistently, there were plenty of moments where Richardson made jaw-dropping plays that reminded you of his tremendous upside.

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