NFL Draft

Pat McAfee: Anthony Richardson Will Lead Colts to Super Bowl

The former Indy punter has high expectations for the team's new franchise quarterback.

Luke Easterling

Pat McAfee: Anthony Richardson Will Lead Colts to Super Bowl
Pat McAfee: Anthony Richardson Will Lead Colts to Super Bowl /
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When the Indianapolis Colts spent the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Florida's Anthony Richardson, they envisioned their next great franchise quarterback, breaking a drought that dates back to the days of Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning.

Former Colts punter-turned ESPN host Pat McAfee shares those lofty expectations for the top-five pick who dominated the NFL Scouting Combine with his rare physical traits.

Appearing as a guest on the Colts' broadcast of Thursday night's preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, McAfee shared his highly optimistic view that Richardson will one day lead his former team to another Lombardi Trophy:

Richardson didn't have a ton of starting experience at the college level, but his rare combination of size, athleticism, arm talent and mental prowess gives him perhaps the highest ceiling we've seen from a quarterback prospect in quite some time.

Plenty of variables will obviously contribute to whether or not Richardson can lead the Colts back to the Super Bowl, but expectations are high that he has the ability to deliver if the team can surround him with enough talent on both sides of the ball, and be patient as he develops with more experience.

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Luke Easterling
LUKE EASTERLING

Luke Easterling (he/him) has been covering college football and the NFL for more than two decades, with a particular focus on the nexus of both, the NFL Draft. Writing for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in sports media, Luke's experience and expertise in evaluating potential NFL prospects and evaluating team needs/fits has earned the appreciation of his readers, and the respect of his peers. Luke cut his sports journalism teeth at The Tampa Tribune before spending two years at Bleacher Report as a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luke then spent nearly seven years at USA TODAY Sports Media Group as editor of Draft Wire and Bucs Wire, building both into authoritative destination sites for their respective audiences. Now at The Arena Group, Luke covers the NFL and college football for Athlon Sports, and runs Sports Illustrated's FanNation site for the NFL Draft. A graduate of the University of South Florida, Luke has been a featured guest on ESPN Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Fox Sports Radio, SiriusXM and more.  Based in Tampa, Florida (the true home of the Cuban sandwich), Luke plays the drums, loves 2000s pop-punk, watches way too many British murder mystery shows, and channels the energy of his deep-south Grammy and his full-Italian Nana in the kitchen. Twitter: @lukeeasterling Email: luke.easterling@si.com

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