Frustrated by spending four long seasons in the water after Andrew Luck’s shocking retirement, four seasons marked by the franchise’s reluctance Anthony Richardson to move to the game’s most important position, Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard finally drew a hand that convinced him to push in all his chips…
Ballard’s big bet is Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was taken with the No. 4 pick in the draft, after being passed over by an AFC South rival.
The first choice was no surprise.
Two months ago, Carolina paid a hefty price to move up to No. 1 for the right to take the first quarterback on its board, and for the past few weeks, it’s been clear that the Panthers were going to take Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. .
The intrigue in the 2023 NFL Draft begins with the Texans at no. It was supposed to happen at 2. At the same time it became clear that Carolina would take Young, a report out of Houston indicated that the Texans would not take any of the other three quarterbacks.
All those speculations turned out to be wrong. Houston quickly snapped up Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.
But the Texans made an offensive play that few saw after Stroud was picked. Minutes after drafting Stroud, Houston traded up to the No. 3 pick to take Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, leaving the Colts at No. 4 with a decision between Richardson and Kentucky’s Will Lewis.
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Indianapolis selected Richardson.
A unique prospect. A player with the best physical tools the NFL draft has ever produced, but very little production to show for it at the collegiate level.
Richardson started just one season at Florida, completing 53.8% of his passes for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, adding 654 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground and leading the Gators to a 6–6 record.
Few, if any, NFL quarterbacks have ever achieved this kind of stardom after a college career.
Some players only started one season, quarterbacks like Cam Newton and Kyler Murray, but those players dominated in their only seasons at the college level. Players with pedestrian stats, like Josh Allen, are quarterbacks, but those players were multi-year starters at the collegiate level.
Richardson’s lack of production at Florida makes him a unicorn in NFL history.
But also his physical gifts.
By combining NFL results, Richardson is the most athletic quarterback prospect ever, a 6-4, 244-pounder who is built like a defensive end, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds, and has a cannon for an arm, the kind of arm. Strength that can put the ball in any window.
The Colts believe their new coaching staff can put it all together.
Indianapolis selected Shane Steichen as the franchise’s new head coach because of his history working with quarterbacks, a history that includes working with three very different types of passers: Philip Rivers, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts.
Steichen has been successful with this trio because of his commitment to building his offense around what his quarterback does best, and now he faces Richardson, whose athleticism and running ability make him more like Hurts than either of the other two.
With Richardson at the helm, Steichen will likely emphasize the rookie quarterback’s dynamism, a long desire of both Ballard and Colts owner Jim Irsay, and at least for the first time, early in his career, use Richardson’s arm strength to get the ball up the field. .
Steichen has done this before. With a young Jalen Hurts early in his Philadelphia career, Steichen built the Eagles’ offense around Hurts’ mobility as a runner and passer, emphasizing the downfield passing game and allowing him to make plays with his legs.
Indianapolis could use a similar scheme with Anthony Richardson, and it could allow the Colts to get a rookie quarterback on the field quickly, though they have veteran backup Gardner Minshew on the roster in case Richardson isn’t ready right away.
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But the Colts didn’t make this draft pick with just the 2023 season in mind. For years, Indianapolis owner Jim Irse has wanted to develop a young quarterback, and he’s adamant that he realizes that kind of play can require patience on the field.
If Anthony Richardson can fully realize all the possibilities inside his body, he could become one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, the kind of otherworldly talent Allen and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes regularly put on display.
Indianapolis is betting it can unlock all those gifts.
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