The Indianapolis Colts knew who their target was all along and used the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft to select quarterback Anthony Richardson.
The Florida product will bring a lot of optimism and excitement to the organization as the team will work to bring the face of the franchise up to speed.
Grading draft picks immediately after they are selected is arbitrary and nonsensical. We won’t have a true grade on this pick until at least three years down the line, and we’re essentially trying to predict the future.
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Richardson is a pick that comes with a lot of projection. Even general manager Chris Ballard said after making the selection that they did so based on what the 20-year-old could become.
With Richardson, the Colts are getting an elite athlete. At 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, Richardson ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash and put up a historic 40.5-inch vertical jump at the NFL combine.
Despite his lack of experience as a starter, Richardson shows off advanced pocket movement, the ability to manipulate defenders at the second and third levels of the field, and has an absolute rocket for an arm. He’s a perfect fit for Shane Steichen’s vertical passing game, and his rushing ability will give the Colts a nasty RPO tandem in the backfield with Jonathan Taylor.
Even though his dual-threat ability is enticing, Richardson is a thrower first. His tape is littered with pressure from his offensive line, but he doesn’t bail immediately. He wants to throw the ball and is willing to stand in the pocket to do so.
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The biggest knock on Richardson’s profile is his 53.8% completion percentage. On the surface, that’s a terrible number. But there are several factors that led to it, and while Richardson certainly needs to improve his consistency when it comes to ball placement, that figure is not a totally accurate representation of his throwing ability.
The lack of starting experience also means a long road of development is ahead. Richardson will only get better by getting as many reps as he can so Colts fans should be prepared for some growing pains.
Those who have followed our work throughout the offseason know we’re fans of Richardson and his upside. It was the correct choice to make with the information at hand.
Grading picks right after they are selected is questionable, and even at the risk of showing up on Freezing Cold Takes if it doesn’t work out, we are very excited about the potential Richardson brings.
Grade: A
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