Colts Players Rave Over Anthony Richardson: 'The Sky's The Limit'

As his first month with the Indianapolis Colts comes to a close, hear what Anthony Richardson's teammates are saying about the rookie quarterback.

The buzz around Anthony Richardson has not stopped since the Indianapolis Colts took him with the No.4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Everything the 21-year-old quarterback from Gainesville, Fla., does is analyzed. From his actions in the building to how he performs on the practice field, Richardson is constantly under a microscope. It comes with being the face of the franchise.

One of the biggest challenges the rookie quarterback will face is earning the respect of the locker room. His teammates are also watching to see how Richardson handles the pressure and adjusts to life in the NFL. After all, this is the quarterback who will, hopefully, lead this team into the fire for the next 10-15 years.

The buzz and excitement around Richardson are not just coming from fans. His teammates have also expressed optimism regarding the rookie quarterback. Let's take a look at what other Colts are saying about Richardson.

RB Jonathan Taylor - "It's Going to Get Real Scary"

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Taylor sat down for an interview with Justin Mello of The Draft Network, where he discussed his thoughts on Richardson joining the Colts. The All-Pro running back could hardly contain his excitement.

"I was very excited. If you look at his skill set, the sky’s the limit for him. Now it’s all about coming in and absorbing the coaching aspect of it. He has to absorb the little nuggets of knowledge that our veterans are going to offer him. I know that’s what helped me when I was a rookie in this league. That’s how I came into my own. If he does that, the sky’s the limit for Anthony Richardson.

"As long as he comes in willing to absorb the information, it’s going to get real scary out there on the field for opposing defenses."

With the mobility of Richardson combined with Taylor's all-world ability, the Colts could have one of the most dangerous rushing attacks for years to come.

G Quenton Nelson - "That's a Guy You Want to Draft"

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Nelson has had to block for eight different quarterbacks throughout his five-year career with the Colts. Richardson will be the ninth, but the All-Pro guard sees talent in the rookie quarterback that Indy can build on for years to come.

"Really excited. Heard great things about (Richardson) and his character and the person he is. And then, seeing his film, you can see what he can do on the field is pretty extraordinary. I mean, he dominated the (NFL) Combine and did really really well in college football this year. He can run, he can pass.

"The game film is definitely more important, seeing some of the spectacular plays he made and throws he made. But to just go to the Combine like he did and be the best ever, I would say that's pretty important that he took it that seriously and dominated it the way he did. That's a guy you want to draft is someone that wants to be the best and does the best.

"Just bouncing from year to year, quarterback to quarterback, it'll be nice to be able to build something for years to come."

DT Grover Stewart - "That's the Guy That I Wanted to Get"

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Drafted by the Colts in 2017, Stewart has also been a part of the Colts' quarterback carousel since the beginning. Going into the draft, Stewart himself had a favorite quarterback prospect. That prospect is now a Colt.

"That’s the guy that I had wanted to get. I was happy whenever we chose him. When I saw that we got him I was like, ‘Shoot, I’m good now.’ He just looks like a great quarterback. Nice size and has got speed on him and everything."

As a defensive lineman, Stewart knows the challenge mobile quarterbacks present. Big Grove is happy to have a talent like that on his side now in Richardson.

“It makes it difficult because that guy can throw, he can move and he’s big so it’s going to be harder to get him down.”

LB Zaire Franklin - "He's All About The Grind"

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Franklin has worked his way from a seventh-round pick to breaking the franchise record for tackles in a season since joining the Colts. He knows how hard you have to work to be successful in the NFL. Speaking to Jim Rome on The Jim Rome Show, Franklin revealed the work ethic that he sees from Richardson and how he is already making plays against the Colts first-team defense.

"I think the thing I love so much about Anthony is he's all about the work. He's all about the grind. He comes in early, he's putting that work in. He's out to practice early, he's out of practice late. He's doing his best. And I'm not going to lie, he's making some plays."

While Richardson still has a long way to go in his development, Franklin believes everything is in place for the rookie to be a superstar.

"Obviously, when you first get out there, you're going against a first team defense for the first time, things are going on. But as he settled in he started to make plays. He's athletic, man, he makes some big throws and I think just as he settled down, as he continued to get comfortable, and continue to work with coach Steichen and the offense and those guys in a rhythm, a routine, I definitely think he has everything necessary to be special."

QB Gardner Minshew - "Wow, This Dude's Really Got a Chance"

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Many times, the forgotten quarterback on the Colts' roster is Minshew. After following head coach Shane Steichen from the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency this spring, Minshew finds himself splitting reps with Richardson on the first-team offense. Minshew worked out with Richardson before the draft and likes what he has seen early on.

“Obviously, the first thing is just how impressive – the ball jumps out of his hand. Physically, you’ve got everything you want. So, from that standpoint, just seeing him is like, ‘Wow, this dude’s really got a chance.’ Then getting around him and seeing how he works, how he takes criticism and wants to learn and get better, all of those things are really, really encouraging to be around.”

Whether Minshew or Richardson starts Week 1 is yet to be determined. However, these two quarterbacks have quickly developed a good relationship and are pushing one another to get better.

TE Mo Alie-Cox - "The Sky is the Limit for Him"

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With Richardson turning 21 years old just this month, he is young compared to some of the other rookies entering the NFL. But do not tell him that. Many of his veteran teammates, including Alie-Cox, have said glowing things about Richardson's maturity and potential.

“He’s definitely very mature. Excited to watch him work. Sometimes it doesn’t even look like he’s throwing a ball – he’s just like flicking it and it gets there. You can just tell all the tools are there. You can see his confidence is growing every day the more and more reps he gets. Now they’re starting to work him in with the ones and stuff like that. From Monday to today you can see the improvements. The sky is the limit for him.”

Alie-Cox, just like Nelson, has ridden the Colts' quarterback carousel on offense since he signed as an undrafted free agent. While drafting a quarterback is one thing, reaching his potential is another. The tight end believes Richardson has the right mentality to reach that sky-high potential.

"You can tell he gets it. He comes about his business. He comes in every day ready to work. It’s just exciting watching him out there working and then you see when he takes off and runs you can see that juice there. It’s an element we haven’t had – I don’t think we’ve had it since I’ve been here.”

DE Samson Ebukam - "I Feel Bad For The Other Teams"

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Ebukam has experience going against athletic quarterbacks as he has spent his entire career in the NFC South. Coming to Indy from the San Francisco 49ers, Ebukam sees much of the same qualities in Richardson as he has seen in the likes of Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray. Busted plays are never over when you have a dual-threat quarterback. 

"(Richardson) gives us what the league is turning into – dual-threat quarterbacks. It’s good to just have him back there. I know that we’re making him better as well because it’s different doing seven-on-seven than when you have people in your face. I know it’s making him better as well. We’re sharpening each other.

"It kind of makes everything possible because being dual-threat like that, a busted play can still be a big play. He just keeps it going and that gets DBs to be exhausted and somebody's gonna end up losing contain. And he's already fast so once he gets running he's gone. But I've seen his arm too, he got a big arm, so it's a lot to really prepare for. I feel bad for the other teams, for real."

WR Ashton Dulin - "He's a Great Addition"

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Dulin has climbed up the roster from special teams to someone who has a substantial role on offense at times. As an undrafted free agent, Dulin has learned a lot through his journey. While Richardson also has much to learn, Dulin has already noticed how quickly Richardson is picking up on things.

"With Richardson, he’s a great addition right now. I think he’s learning a lot – I think that’s the biggest part about it. With repetition comes that learning. The sky is the limit for him. He’s young, but at the same time, he’s picking it up fast, which is a good thing for us, and to be able to know that he’s going to be where he wants to be at in the next coming days and weeks in practices.

“A strong arm. A talented arm for sure. He has some zip to it. He’s learning touch as well – I think that’s the biggest part about it when you make that jump is to be able to know what routes and what balls need a certain amount of tempo on it. I think he’s learning that as well. He definitely has a strong, talented arm for sure. It definitively pops out of his hand for sure.”

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