The 2023 NFL draft is finally here. The first round kicks off Thursday night, and at least four quarterbacks are expected to go in the first round. As many as five could go in the first round, depending on what happens with Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Alabama’s Bryce Young is the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers, but things get a bit cloudy after Young.
C.J. Stroud of Ohio State should go in the top four. However, some reports cite Will Levis of Kentucky heading to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 4. Then there is Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Projections are all over the map for Richardson, a raw but super-talented dual-threat passer with only 13 college starts.
Some mock drafts had Richardson going No. 1 overall, but it was rare to see him falling out of the top 10. Richardson went No. 23 to the Minnesota Vikings in Peter King’s mock draft.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated published his final mock draft Wednesday, and he had Richardson falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 19 overall.
But that wasn’t the news from Breer’s mock draft. For the Washington Commanders at No. 16, Breer selects Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Buried in his prediction for Washington’s pick is the following blurb regarding Richardson.
And I did get a little late information that Washington exec Marty Hurney has advocated for Richardson.
Marty Hurney is Washington’s executive vice president of football/player personnel and is a trusted resource for head coach Ron Rivera. Remember, Hurney hired Rivera when he was the Carolina Panthers general manager. Even more interesting, Hurney and Rivera drafted Cam Newton at No. 1 overall back in 2011.
Could Hurney be pushing for Richardson because he sees Cam Newton in the young passer? Newton was a game-changing pick for the Panthers, winning the MVP award and making Carolina a contender during his time in Charlotte.
Washington believes in Sam Howell and intends to give him every chance to start in 2023. However, if Richardson is on the board at No. 16, how seriously would the Commanders consider taking him?
Thursday night should be interesting.