Florida’s first-year quarterback [autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] has attempted just 66 passes in his college career and only started a single game in 2021, but that hasn’t stopped NFL draft experts from pegging him as a first-round pick in 2023.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid has Richardson going 10th overall to the New York Giants in his latest mock draft. It’s a preseason list so everything is subject to change by the end of the year, but it’s high praise for a quarterback who has only shown bursts of explosiveness along with plenty of bad decisions that led to interceptions.
That’s not to sound doubtful of Richardson or Reid. The talent is certainly there, but the consistency is lacking. If Billy Napier can get Richardson to make the right decision more often than the flashy one, he might be able to make good on the lofty expectations set by the national media.
Another part of it is the assumption that plenty of teams will be in the market for a quarterback after a weak class in the 2022 draft. Even Reid concedes that Richardson will need to impress evaluators to keep his top-10 spot. As far as the fit, the Giants just parted ways with Daniel Jones after declining his fifth-year option.
With the Falcons, Lions and Texans expected to finish worse and also looking for a quarterback, Richardson falling to New York seems realistic given a strong season with marked development.
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