Anthony Richardson (QB) – Florida / Sophomore (red-shirted as Freshman)
6’4” / 244.0 lbs (Combine)
2021 Stats: PASSING – 7 games, 38 completions, 64 attempts, 59.4 completion percentage, 529 yards, 8.3 yards per attempt, 6 touchdowns, 5 interceptions. RUSHING – 51 attempts, 401 yards, 7.9 yards per run, 3 touchdowns.
2022 Stats: PASSING – 12 games, 176 completions, 327 attempts, 53.8 completion percentage, 2549 yards, 7.8 yards per attempt, 17 touchdowns, 9 interceptions. RUSHING – 103 attempts, 654 yards, 6.3 yards per run, 9 touchdowns
{reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/anthony-richardson-2.html}
Awards:
- All SEC Freshman Team (2021)
- Named to Maxwell Award watch list prior to the 2022 campaign
Measurables: Hands – 10-½”; Arm – 32-¾”; Wingspan – 79-⅞” (Combine)
Games Watched: [Joe] 2021 vs. Georgia, 2022 vs. Utah, 2022 @ Tennessee. [Efram] 2022 vs Utah, 2022 @ Georgia, 2022 vs LSU, 2022 @ Vanderbilt
PRO’S
[Efram] Anthony Richardson is an A+ athlete, and will instantly be a top five athlete at Quarterback. At a perfect 6’4” 230 he is dangerous as a runner. Richardson is big enough to break tackles (39 MTF) while also having breakaway speed (update w 40 time). He has the strongest arm in the class… easily. Between launching balls 60+ yards, to throwing so fast it hurts college receivers, Richardson has traits that are nearly unheard of. Unlike most project QB’s, he has solid pocket presence and maneuvers well around rushers, and has shown he can read defenses and move through progressions. Richardson has the athletic profile to rely on his legs while he develops as a passer.
[Joe] Anthony Richardson’s potential is off the charts and fans are right to be excited about him. Watch Florida’s first game in 2022 against Utah to get a taste of what Richardson brings to the table – 3 running TDs and a 2-point conversion, where he spun away from two defenders and then passed to a wide open WR in the end zone. Richardson has great size for a quarterback and incredible explosiveness, which is readily apparent in his scrambling ability and running skills which have to be respected by any defense. He also has a canon for an arm which makes NFL General Managers drool, in general. At 6’4” he has ideal height for a QB, and at 244 lbs he is solidly built and can be tough for a tackler to bring down (think Cam Newton).
CON’S
[Efram] Accuracy is by far the weakest part of Anthony Richardson’s game. He barely completed over 50% of his throws, and his tape unfortunately matches the stats. His poor mechanics must be fixed by a QB coach, as they lead to often misfires where he misses receivers completely. Richardson hasn’t shown consistent ball placement or timing whatsoever. With only (14?) starts under his belt, GM’s know they are taking a risk. Richardson can miss routes and stare down receivers, but given his inexperience it’s assumed he’ll improve. Richardson is far from being a traditional starter and pocket passer.
[Joe] While fans are right to be excited about him, they are also right to be wary. Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. Richardson makes very impressive throws, but is also way off target at times. While it’s fair to point that deficiency out, I think he gets slammed a little too hard by others for it — he is raw and we all know that, and the expectation (if you’re investing in him) should be that his accuracy will improve with time and good coaching. Richardson needs to read defenses quicker and to get the ball out faster, but that is par the course for a prospective QB who only has one full season as an NCAA starter.
OVERALL
[Efram] Anthony Richardson is the classic toolsy QB prospect. He will rely on his elite athleticism as he grows as a passer. His rocket arm gives him potential as one of the best passers in the league. Richardson is inexperienced and young, clearly still learning the nuances of the position. His success in the NFL will come down to whether he can fix his accuracy. He can either become one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL, or never earn a starting job. He shouldn’t start as a rookie and is best drafted to a team that can incorporate his running skills. I’ve been lobbying for the Giants to draft Richardson, as Brian Daboll has proven success with high trait Quarterbacks (Josh Allen, Daniel Jones).
[Joe] Richardson is probably the most polarizing player declared for the 2023 NFL Draft somewhat in the same vein as 2022 draft entry, QB Malik Willis, but only to a point because Richardson is a much better prospect than Willis ever was. With his Combine performance and measurements (let the Cam Newton comparisons begin!), I now think he could be (and should be) the QB2 off the board in the 1st round (unless something goes very wrong during his pro days and interviews). Heck, there’s a good chance he goes top-5 like a similar project/projection, Trey Lance, did a few years ago. One of the reasons being that Richardson did play at a major NCAA program like Florida (as opposed to Willis who played at Liberty University). His cons (accuracy and reading defenses) are serious concerns, but can also be learned and corrected (no guarantee but, yes, QBs usually improve in those areas in the NFL). The key thing is going to a good organization with offensive minds who know what they are doing, and who have a plan to develop and bring him along. Personally, if I’m a QB-needy team and picking very high in the draft, I’d probably go with Richardson (assuming pro-day and interviews go well) over Young and Levis, given Richardson’s ceiling, measurements, and natural skills.
Updated by: Joe Knows (@JoeJ_Clark), 03/05/23
Added to: Efram (@Mr1rrelevant), 03/05/23
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