NFL Draft 2023 – Page 3 – Syndication Server

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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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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Bijan Robinson explains why Texas is a hotbed for running back talent

USA TODAY Sports sits down with upcoming NFL draft prospect from Texas RB Bijan Robinson.

If you listen to all the hype, Bijan Robinson just may blossom into one of the games all-time greatest running backs.

The Doak Walker Award winner averaged 6.1 yards per carry, and during his three years at Texas scored 33 TDs.

There’s no doubt he has the makings of an NFL superstar.

And if he does in fact fulfill his promise, he will be the latest in an impressive line of UT backs who excelled at the next level.

The list includes Jamaal Charles, who was a two-time First-team All-Pro with the Chiefs, Earl Campbell, whose brief but dominant career was highlighted by an MVP award in 1979, Cedric Benson, who had 32 NFL rushing TDs, and Ricky Williams, the NFL’s leader in rushing yards in 2002.

Robinson recently spoke with USA Today Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon and emphasized the important impact the school’s legends has had on his own career.

“I talked to every single one of them a lot throughout my years,” said Robinson. “If I needed help, then I can hit up Ricky, then I can hit up Jamaal, and especially Earl. Earl is always around the stadium; he’s as wise as it gets.”

Robinson also told Mackenzie that he will now look to mentor future Texas running backs, who according to him includes, “three of the number one running backs in the next classes.” That could mean some tough times for UT’s opponents for years to come.

Check out more from their conversation by clicking on the video above.

Alabama’s Bryce Young says he models his game after this NFL QB

USA TODAY Sports sits down with Alabama QB prospect Bryce Young ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.

Bryce Young recently sat down with USA Today Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon and told her that he models his game after another high profile QB who’s also been a daily topic of conversation – the newest New York Jet, Aaron Rodgers.

He pointed to one of Rodgers’ strongest attributes – consistency, a trait the diminutive, yet lethal former Alabama signal caller mentioned numerous times during their conversation.

When asked about coach Nick Saban, the QB said the legendary coach always preached the importance of being, “consistent and hold(ing) yourself to a standard day in and day out.”

Now, Young and his fellow Crimson Tide teammate, Will Anderson Jr. will look to turn heads and attain that consistency at the next level; this time as early draft picks with a ton of expectations placed on their shoulders.

Click the link above to watch Mackenzie’s entire interview which includes his thoughts on his skill set, Anderson Jr., playing at ‘Mama, and other timely topics.

This USA TODAY Sports mock draft has Anthony Richardson outside top 10

What if Will Anderson is taken at No. 2 overall? How would that affect Anthony Richardson’s landing spot?

The 88th annual edition of the 2023 NFL draft — held in Kansas City, Missouri this year — is just three days away, starting on Thursday, April 27, and running until Saturday, April 29. The sports media has been frothing at the mouth with its predictions for the league’s premier spring event taking place this week, and soon, their thirst for results will be satiated.

Among those chiming in with their mocks is USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis, who published his latest projections on Monday under the premise that former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Will Anderson Jr. will be taken by the Houston Texans with the second pick. Such a selection would send a ripple through the rest of the first round and would very likely affect former Florida Gators quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag]’s landing spot.

How far would the Gainesville native fall in this scenario? Davis has Richardson taken outside the top 10 at No. 11 by the Tennessee Titans. Here is his take on the pick.

Ryan Tannehill is entering the final year of his contract, and Malik Willis did little to inspire confidence from the fans or coaches in 2022. Enter the self-styled “Cam Jackson,” who blew up the combine as a bit of a Newton-Lamar Jackson hybrid. At 6-4, 244 pounds, Richardson blazed a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and hit combine quarterback records with a vertical jump of 40½ inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches. So though he’s lacking in experience (13 starts for the Gators), Richardson’s physical tools – to include a bazooka of an arm that was also on full display – are tantalizing. And similar to Jackson, Richardson could benefit from breaking in behind Tannehill while maybe seeing the field in specially designed packages … given the reasonable assumption the 21-year-old won’t be ready to start immediately.

This aligns well with CBS Sports writer Will Brinson’s recent take based on the narrative that quarterbacks will not be as prolific at the top of the draft as many think. His mock has Richardson taken at No. 12 by the Texans with a pick acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

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).

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Razorback Wire NFL Mock Draft: 20-16

Check out the Razorback Wire NFL Mock draft picks 20-16

We’ve officially reached the middle of the first round, where you can find a gem or a bust.

This is also part of the draft where teams make a strange selection, picking a player that wasn’t on anyone’s radar. Sometimes they know what they’re doing and leave all critics silenced, but there is also a flip side.

Former Razorback Treylon Burke went to the Tennesse Titans as the 18th overall pick in last year’s draft, having a decent season, catching 37 balls for 444 yards.

While we’re not going to call out any “bust,” but if you’re curious about the flipside, pick a draft year, look at the mid-first round, and count how many times you say, “Who is that?”

Then you’ll get the point.

Patriots pull off blockbuster trade in this full first-round mock draft

The Patriots agree to a trade in this full first-round 2023 mock draft.

With the 2023 NFL draft quickly approaching, I thought it would be worthwhile to create a first-round mock draft with trades.

This one is a bit different than the full seven-round mock drafts we’ve been pumping out, as this one focuses on what the full first round could look like. It could help paint a picture of how things could go leading up to the No. 14 overall selection by the Patriots.

New England could go in a bunch of different directions, including wide receiver, cornerback and offensive tackle, depending on how things play out on draft night. There’s fun in the unpredictable nature of the draft board this time of the year.

Here’s our full first-round NFL mock draft.

WATCH: Anthony Richardson shines at Florida Pro Day

Anthony Richardson was back in the Swamp Thursday to participate in Florida’s NFL Pro Day, and he did not disappoint the coaches and scouts watching.

A dozen former Gators participated in Florida’s Pro Day on Thursday, but the biggest focus of the morning was clearly on quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag], who is projected to be among the top quarterbacks selected in the upcoming 2023 NFL draft.

Richardson already boosted his draft stock tremendously with a strong performance at the combine, so all he opted to do on Thursday was throw the ball. His 4.43-second 40-yard dash, 40.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-9-inch broad jump easily made him one of the most athletic quarterbacks of all time. There’s simply no need to prove himself physically and risk injury.

But pro scouts did want to see Richardson throw, and No. 15 made sure to impress several NFL head coaches and front office personnel in the audience. At this point, it seems fairly realistic to assume that Richardson could go within the first 15 picks of the draft, or even at No. 1 overall.

Here’s a look at Anthony Richardson’s Pro Day and some reactions on social media from throughout the morning.

Take a look at who is taking part in Florida football’s pro day

Take a look at the lineup for Florida’s pro day at the end of the month.

The 2023 NFL draft is rapidly approaching with just five weeks remaining before the selection process kicks off on Thursday, April 27. The festivities hosted in Kansas City, Missouri, will continue until Saturday, April 29, as 32 professional franchises make their decisions out of a field of 259 possible picks.

Most recently, the top prospects in the upcoming draft participated in the NFL scouting combine, which scrutinized each individual both on a physical and performance level. However, before the big day arrives many schools are putting on their own pro days to give their alumni another chance to wow the pro scouts before judgment day.

Take a look below at the 12 athletes — 11 of whom are football players and the other a former track and field standout — who are scheduled to partake in this year’s pro day at the University of Florida on March 30.

Texas RB Bijan Robinson takes pre-draft trip to Philadelphia

The Eagles hosted Bijan Robinson on a visit this week.

The Philadelphia Eagles hosted highly touted prospect Bijan Robinson on a pre-draft visit this week. Continue reading “Texas RB Bijan Robinson takes pre-draft trip to Philadelphia”