Panthers Move to No. 1: Could Florida's Anthony Richardson Be Their Guy?

Photo: Anthony Richardson; Credit: Alex Shepherd

Since clocking a 4.43-second 40-yard-dash and pairing the run with record-breaking jumps at the 2023 NFL Combine, the talk of the league has been Florida quarterback prospect Anthony Richardson's surprise emergence as a candidate to become this year's No. 1 overall pick.

The theory gained credibility on Friday evening when NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Carolina Panthers have traded up to the selection, agreeing to terms on a blockbuster deal with the Chicago Bears and giving up a mix of first-and-second-round picks and star wide receiver D.J. Moore for their choice of passer come April.

"I would say they're pretty happy in Carolina," Rapoport stated in the wake of his reporting.

Now, the question is, which quarterback will the Panthers take at No. 1? And yes, they're taking a quarterback.

While his résumé isn't nearly as littered with the accomplishments, ideal passing statistics and wins that fellow signal-caller prospects Bryce Young of Alabama and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State possess, Richardson's unmatched athletic ability displayed not only in Indianapolis, Ind. but also throughout his Gators' film has firmly placed the Gainesville product in the conversation about No. 1 overall.

His potential is that gripping.

And to add fuel to the fire, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller — at least as of less than two weeks before this story was posted — believes Richardson is Carolina's guy. He shared on NFL Live just prior to the Combine that all signs have pointed to the Panthers being fascinated by the Florida quarterback's potential, and their coaching staff believing that they can polish his skill set.

"You definitely get the sense that they're all in on Anthony Richardson. The athleticism is there. The arm strength is there. And you hear that this offensive staff, led by Frank Reich, they believe they can develop a quarterback with guys like Jim Caldwell, Thomas Brown, who they bring in from the L.A. Rams.

So, you're going to do a lot of vertical things down the field. I think there's a good situation for Richardson. A top 10 pick, which we're all expecting. You can bring back

Sam Darnold

, who can really hold the door for a year and let someone like Richardson develop. I think you get him on the field immediately, see some packages for him. A lot like we saw at Florida in 2021, but then you get him ready to be that starter in 2024. I do think this is an ideal situation for him."

The Panthers are now figuratively on the clock, with ample time to analyze every quarterback that catches their interest before it's time to make their pick come the first round of the NFL Draft, on Thursday, April 27.

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