Gators' Billy Napier Talks 'Benefit' of Anthony Richardson's Fit With Colts

SARASOTA, Fla. -- One of the 2023 NFL Draft's most fascinating player selections was Indianapolis' decision to roll the dice on Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Consider Richardson's former head coach, Billy Napier, a fan of his fit with the Colts and a believer in the upside of the choice.

"I think it’s a great landing spot," Napier suggested to reporters before his spring speaking event in Sarasota on Wednesday. "There were a number of places that I thought might be really good, and that was one of them.”

The pick, according to ESPN, was nearly two years in the making. The timeline was crowded with trips to Gainesville and other SEC cities by Colts' personnel where the scouts witnessed Richardson's athletic marvel — in games, practice settings and during Florida's March Pro Day — before returning to Indianapolis with rave reviews.

In four games observed in person by Indianapolis staff in 2022 alone — Florida's matchups with Utah, LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina — Richardson completed 60 percent of his passes for 666 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions, adding 389 yards and seven touchdowns rushing.

Understanding not only Richardson's skill set but also his developmental needs after one season of overseeing his growth, Napier shared his confidence that new Colts head coach Shane Steichen will cater his approach offensively to mesh with the quarterback's strengths.

Look no further than Steichen's success with dynamic Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts over the now-head coach's two-year stint as Philadelphia's offensive coordinator, Napier alluded. Hurts tallied 374 total yards and four total touchdowns in his final game under Steichen's guidance: Super Bowl LVII in February.

"I do think that there’s some benefit to the fit," Napier said. "Had a chance to meet with Shane briefly, talked to a number of people on the personnel side throughout the process. Him being an offensive guy, having a similar skill set player [Hurts], having brought some of the college elements to their offense, and so I think continuity in system is going to benefit Anthony."

Ultimately, Napier stated, the most crucial aspect of Richardson's development will come down to his immediate utilization.

Gone, for the most part, are the days of first-round quarterbacks sitting behind a veteran to ease into the role of a franchise player. The Colts will be expected to Richardson out onto the gridiron immediately, and in Napier's opinion, such an approach would be in Richardson's best interest.

With just 13 starts at the college level under his belt — a stretch in which his team produced a 6-7 record, featuring two matchups with No. 1 Georgia — Richardson's progression can only benefit from the number of snaps he is set to receive in an offense tailored to suit him.

"Obviously, he just needs reps," Napier said, "and he needs to be in a system and bank the reps and get experience and continue to work to get better."

The selection ceremony in Kansas City, Mo. marked Napier's first trip to an NFL Draft. It was an experience he won't soon forget.

"It was awesome," Napier said. "This is an emotional [night] – you can see it on [Richardson's] face from the very first interaction. You’re in the green room, think about as a child, you’ve been watching that draft your entire life.

"And then to have a number of other players do the same thing," he continued, referencing UF's five other 2023 picks: defensive lineman Gervon Dexter (Chicago), offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence (Buffalo), linebacker Ventrell Miller (Jacksonville), wide receiver Justin Shorter (Buffalo) and linebacker and Amari Burney (Las Vegas). "It’s always cool.”

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