Category: NFL Draft 2023

How to Watch: 2023 NFL Draft final four rounds on Saturday

Here’s how to follow the final day of the NFL draft.

The 88th annual edition of the 2023 NFL draft kicked off in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday night and runs until Saturday, April 29. The first through third round of festivities were knocked out on Thursday and Friday nights night, giving way to the final rounds on Saturday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

The University of Florida — the only school to have had a player selected in every draft of the common era — has 10 entries in the annual amateur selection process this year, with at least five of them expected to find their first professional homes in the seven-round affair. Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was the first off the board at No. 4 overall to the Indianapolis Colts with Gervon Dexter and O’Cyrus Torrence going toward the end of the second round, respectively.

Take a look below at what you need to know to follow Saturday afternoon’s final rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

Buffallo Bills select G O’Cyrus Torrence in 2nd Round

The Bills might have just picked up one of the biggest steals of the draft. Former Florida offensive guard O’Cyrus Torrence is headed to Buffalo!

The Buffalo Bills selected former Florida offensive guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag] with the 59th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft Friday night.

Torrence entered the draft as potentially the top guard in the class, but the Los Angeles Rams selected TCU’s Steve Avila with the fifth pick of the second round (No. 36 overall) instead. Surprisingly, Florida defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. came off the board six picks ahead of Torrence, and quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was the fourth overall pick.

It’s not too bad of a slide considering offensive guards usually hold a low priority during the draft. Still, the Bills are getting a first-round talent and an instant starter deep in the second round. It’s hard to call this pick anything but a steal.

Torrence will go down as one of the greatest one-year Gators in program history. A First Team All-American and the anchor of an elite offensive line, he more than proved that he was capable of dominating SEC defensive linemen.

Napier recruited Torrence as a three-star recruit while he was the head coach at Louisiana, and it was a no-brainer to recruit him again in the transfer portal once Napier made the move to Florida.

Now, he’ll represent both teams as he continues his career in the NFL.

Buffalo drafted Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam with its first-round pick in 2022.

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Chicago Bears draft DT Gervon Dexter Sr. in 2nd Round

Gervon Dexter is the second Gator off the board in the 2023 NFL draft and is headed to the Windy City to play for the Chicago Bears.

The Chicago Bears drafted former Florida defensive tackle [autotag]Gervon Dexter Sr[/autotag]. with the 53rd overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft Friday night.

Dexter was an expected Day 2 selection but coming off the board in the second round ahead of guard [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence [/autotag]isn’t something draft experts were projecting. It’s hardly surprising to see him drafted so high, though, given his natural physical gifts.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 312-pounder signed with the Gators as a five-star recruit and the No. 12 overall player in the class of 2020. He made an immediate impact on the defensive line and only got better over his three years with the program.

There were those who believed Dexter needed another year in college to unlock his full potential, but it’s clear that NFL teams are high enough him already to validate the decision to leave.

Dexter finished his three-year Gators career with 125 total tackles (46 solo), 9.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. Numbers rarely tell the full story with defensive tackles, though. Dexter was a disruptive presence against some of the SEC’s best.

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Touchdown Wire’s instant draft grade for Anthony Richardson pick

Here’s Touchdown Wire’s grade for Anthony Richardson’s selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was the first former member of the Florida Gators to be selected on Thursday night when the Indianapolis Colts made him the fourth overall pick — highest since [autotag]Kyle Pitts[/autotag] in 2021 — in the 2023 NFL draft. The Gainesville native gives the Orange and Blue a first-day pick for the fourth-straight year and also continues a streak of having an alumnus taken in every draft of the common era.

On Friday following the first round, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar graded out 31 selections on Thursday night, including Richardson. Here is the grade he assigned the UF alumnus’ pick along with his justification.

Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida. Grade: B

Yes, Richardson needs development as a pure passer after just one season as a starter with the Florida Gators. But new Colts head coach and former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen can take the QB run game he had with Jalen Hurts and push it to an entirely new level with Richardson, who presents measurables at the position we have absolutely never seen before.

The NFL draft continues on Friday night starting at 7 p.m. EDT and can be followed on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.

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The Athletic gives Anthony Richardson’s first-round draft grade

Here’s The Athletic’s grade for Anthony Richardson’s selection in the 2023 NFL draft.

Florida football was represented in the first round of the NFL draft by quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] when the Indianapolis Colts used the fourth overall pick to select the former Gator. The Gainesville native gives the Orange and Blue a first-day pick for the fourth-straight year and also continues a streak of having an alumnus taken in every draft of the common era.

On Friday following the first round, The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman put together his grades for the 31 players selected on Thursday, including Richardson. Here is what he had to off on the pick along with his grade.

The Colts finally got off the veteran Merry-Go-Round after opening the season with a different quarterback for five consecutive years. This fall marks the sixth, and nobody has more physical potential than Florida’s Anthony Richardson, whose combine numbers were off the charts. Not only does he have great size (6-4 ¼, 244) with big hands (10 ½ inches), but he ran the 40 in 4.43 seconds and posted a 40 1/2-inch vertical. He averaged 6.3 yards per carry on 654 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. His former teammates rave about him and his character.

But for every “wow” play there was a “whoa” moment. GMs and coaches get fired when potential doesn’t produce, and Richardson is the riskiest first-round quarterback in draft history. Richardson is a one-year starter at Florida who completed 53.8 percent with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions for 2,549 yards. He was the only Power 5 quarterback in the last three seasons with at least 300 attempts who completed less than 54 percent of his passes.

Richardson is the ultimate catnip. With his generational talent, he could lead the Colts to the Super Bowl multiple times. If he busts, everybody is getting fired.

Grade: C

The NFL draft continues on Friday night starting at 7 p.m. EDT and can be followed on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.

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This former Gator among best remaining in 2023 NFL draft

This Gator is among the best available talents remaining in the draft.

The first round of the 2023 NFL draft is officially in the books but there are still six rounds remaining in the amateur selection process. Former Florida quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was among the first off the board on Thursday night, getting snatched up at No. 4 by the Indianapolis Colts.

The Gainesville native’s selection was just one of 10 UF alumni who have thrown their names into the draft hat. The next Gator expected to come off the board is offensive lineman [autotag]O’Cyrus Torrence[/autotag], who many believed would be a first-round pick but instead has slid to the second round.

College Sports Wire’s Patrick Conn put together his list of top prospects remaining in the draft on Thursday morning with the bayou bruiser at No. 7 on his list of remaining players. Take a look below at what he had to offer on Torrence.

Torrence is a mauler that I had regularly mocked in the first round. He can absolutely open a hole, so if a team needs interior help then he should be selected relatively quickly.

The NFL draft continues on Friday night starting at 7 p.m. EDT and can be followed on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.

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How to Watch: 2023 NFL Draft Second and Third Rounds on Friday

Take a look at what you need to know to follow Friday night’s second and third rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

The 88th annual edition of the 2023 NFL draft kicked off in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday night and runs until Saturday, April 29. The first round of festivities was knocked out Thursday night, giving way to the second and third rounds on Friday, and if you’re wondering how you can watch the action live, you’ve come to the right place.

The University of Florida — the only school to have had a player selected in every draft of the common era — has 10 entries in the annual amateur selection process this year, with at least five of them expected to find their first professional homes in the seven-round affair. Quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] was the first off the board at No. 4 overall to the Indianapolis Colts.

Take a look below at what you need to know to follow Friday night’s second and third rounds of the 2023 NFL draft.

Florida fans react to Anthony Richardson going 4th overall in 2023 NFL draft

Anthony Richardson is an Indianapolis Colt and the Florida faithful are celebrating their former quarterback on social media.

The Indianapolis Colts drafted [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] with the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, and Florida fans and media are celebrating the former Gator’s accomplishment.

Richardson is the second-highest-drafted quarterback in program history behind only Steve Spurrier, who went third overall in the 1967 draft. He’s the first Florida signal caller to go in the first round since [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag] and is by far the most exciting Gator turned pro in recent memory.

Indianapolis is an interesting fit for Richardson. The Colts need an answer under center sooner rather than later, but forcing Richardson into a starting role goes against everything the scouts have said leading up to the draft.

As one might expect, Twitter blew up with the news of Richardson being drafted and we’ve put together some of the best from the night.

QB Anthony Richardson selected 4th overall in 2023 NFL draft

Anthony Richardson is an Indianapolis Colt! The former Florida signal caller was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft Thursday night.

The 2023 NFL draft is finally underway and the first Gator off the board is former Florida quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]. The Indianapolis Colts selected Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the first round.

Richardson is the 58th Gator to come off the board on Day 1 in the modern era, and it took just 13 starts in the Swamp. Scouts and draft experts have described him as the most athletic quarterback in draft history, and he reportedly aced the interview portion of the scouting as well.

He leaves Florida with 3,105 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and a 54.7% completion rate (215 for 393). But stats have never been the complete story with Richardson. He’s a local kid who played at Eastside before joining the Gators.

Fans clamored for Dan Mullen to give him a chance over Emory Jones in 2021, and Billy Napier finally gave him the starting job in 2022. It’s well known that Richardson is a work in progress, but his raw talent is too impressive to ignore.

The Colts were looking to add a quarterback after failed attempts to bring in veteran signal callers, but Richardson needs time to thrive. A bit of patience will be necessary for this pick to pan out, but Richardson has already made Gator Nation proud by making it this far.

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Top 5 or teens? USA TODAY Sports sees two possible twists for Anthony Richardson

A very binary take from USA TODAY Sport’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Richardson’s draft prospects.

The 88th annual edition of the 2023 NFL draft kicks off in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, April 27, and runs until Saturday, April 29, with the first round of picks coming on the opening night. Among the many set to test their luck in the amateur selection program are a handful of former Florida Gators (10 to be precise) who have committed to the pro ranks.

Hours ahead of the draft, USA TODAY Sports’ Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz published his 10 potential twists that could create chaos in the 2023 NFL draft’s first round — a narrative that includes UF standout quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]. Middlehurst-Schwartz has two possible scenarios set for the Gainesville native, as seen below.

Will Levis or Anthony Richardson land in top five …

Both of the former SEC quarterbacks are immensely physically gifted with upper-echelon arm strength and excellent mobility (more so for Richardson, who dazzled at the combine with his 4.43-second 40-yard dash). Good luck, however, trying to pin down a perfect fit for either one. Levis has been linked to the Colts for some time, and Richardson still could be in play there as well. And if either one has a particularly high mark from a team further back in the order, there could be sufficient motivation for a trade with either the Cardinals or Seahawks.

Or…

… Levis and/or Richardson fall into the teens

In the flip side to the aforementioned scenario, it’s difficult to establish an exact floor in the first round for either passer. Maybe teams like the Tennessee Titans (No. 11), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 19) or Minnesota Vikings (No. 23) would be more compelled to scoop up a potential long-term solution behind center if they didn’t need to orchestrate a trade up the board to do so. And the trio of teams with two first-round picks — the Texans, Lions and Seahawks — might be intrigued if an option falls into their lap. Still, if either Levis or Richardson makes it past 12, an awkward and extended wait could be ahead.

The most recent UF alumni taken in the first round of the draft are cornerback [autotag]Kaiir Elam[/autotag] (2022, No. 23), tight end [autotag]Kyle Pitts[/autotag] (2021, No. 4), wide receiver [autotag]Kadarius Toney[/autotag] (2021, No. 20) and cornerback [autotag]CJ Henderson[/autotag] (2020, No. 9).

The NFL draft begins on Thursday night at 8 p.m. EDT and can be followed on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.

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