Anthony Richardson mock draft: Why some NFL Draft rumors project Florida QB will go No. 1 overall

Sam Jarden

Anthony Richardson mock draft: Why some NFL Draft rumors project Florida QB will go No. 1 overall image

While most of the quarterback hype for the 2023 NFL Draft is centered on Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, there's a third name that is rapidly entering the conversation: Anthony Richardson.

The dual-threat Florida Gators QB has polarized NFL Draft experts. Some view him as a raw and unproven passer with high upside, while others firmly believe he's one of the most talented players in this year's draft class. His performance at the NFL Combine will be under high scrutiny as scouts try to get a sense of just how physically gifted he is. 

The Gainesville, Fla. native boasts an impressive blend of size, speed and playmaking ability, with a huge arm and a potent deep ball. However, there are plenty of question marks surrounding his concerning lack of accuracy and his readiness to play in a pro-style offense. The 6-4, 232 pound Richardson will be looking to prove some of his doubters wrong with a good performance in front of the NFL scouts in attendance at the combine. 

MORE: Evaluating the Texans' options from No. 2 spot in NFL Draft

Here's a full breakdown of why Richardson has been generating so much attention — and why he could be one of the first players selected this April:

Anthony-Richardson-091721-Getty-FTR

Anthony Richardson NFL mock draft

NFL Draft experts are torn over where Richardson could be selected, with some seeing him as one of the very best prospects of this year's class while others believe he projects as a mid-round pick with high upside. However, his draft stock has skyrocketed in recent weeks, and he now has the sixth-shortest odds to be taken No. 1 overall, per Sports Betting Dime

In his latest mock draft, The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer projected Richardson to be taken No. 4 overall by the Colts. In Indianapolis, he'd be competing with Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger for the starting job.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports made the bold prediction that he'll be the first player off the board in April. "I think Richardson is going to emphatically remove the lid from Lucas Oil Stadium at the NFL Scouting Combine," Trapasso wrote. "Richardson has similarities to Jalen Hurts and All-Pro upside."

Expert (Outlet) Round (pick) Team
Vinnie Iyer (The Sporting News) 1 (4) Colts
Trevor Sikkema (PFF) 1 (3) Panthers (via Cardinals)
Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) 1 (1) Colts (via Bears)
Daniel Jeremiah (NFLN) 1 (18) Lions
Phil Perry (Yahoo! Sports) 1 (9) Panthers
The Athletic NFL Staff 1 (5) Raiders (via Seahawks)

MORE: Vinnie Iyer's updated 2023 NFL Draft big board 

Anthony Richardson stats

Richardson was a four-star recruit coming out of Eastside High School in Gainesville, Fla. He decided to stay close to home to play his college ball, committing to his hometown University of Florida. He redshirted in his first season for the Gators, then split time at quarterback with Emory Jones in 2021. 2022 was the only season in which he was the team's true starter. 

In his lone season as the starter for Florida, the team posted a very disappointing 6-7 record, including a miserable 30-3 loss to Oregon State in the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl. However, he posted fairly impressive numbers, including 26 total touchdowns in his redshirt sophomore season. He also helped lead his team to a major upset over No. 7 Utah in September, pulling off some stellar plays to help secure the victory. 

Below are the stats from his three seasons with the Gators:

Season CMP ATT CMP% YDs Pass TD Rush TD INT
2019 1 2 50.0 9 1 0 1
2020 38 64 59.4 529 6 3 5
2021 176 327 53.8 2,549 17 9 9

Anthony Richardson highlights

Richardson's highlights look noticeably different than many of his fellow quarterbacks in the 2023 draft class. He's equally dangerous making plays with his legs as he is with his arm, and he possesses elite speed and playmaking ability in the open field. Some analysts think he could post an eye-popping 40-yard dash time as fast as 4.5 or 4.6 seconds. He also has a huge arm and throws a very pretty deep ball.

MORE: Full schedule for 2023 NFL Combine

In terms of weaknesses, he's not the most accurate passer. In fact, he was an extremely inaccurate passer in college, as evidenced by a completion percentage of just 53.8% in his final season for the Gators. He also has a tendency to be very skittish in the pocket, and he'll need to develop a little more patience in the NFL. 

His skillset compares favorably with players like Cam Newton and Josh Allen, with his size and speed making him a nightmare for defensive coordinators because of his ability to make plays on the ground. However, he has a lot of work to do to clean up his mechanics and become accurate enough to succeed at the highest level. 

Sam Jarden

Sam Jarden Photo

Sam Jarden joined Sporting News as an intern in 2020 and returned as a content producer in 2022. In between, he spent a year and a half at Turner Sports, managing the social media accounts for Bleacher Report, NBA on TNT, NBA TV and others. A proud UNC alumnus, he spends his free time following the Tar Heels, Buffalo Bills and Newcastle United FC, and has been known to occasionally hit the links.