Colts Draft Anthony Richardson, Get Their New Face of the Franchise
The Indianapolis Colts finally have their new potential franchise quarterback.
With the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts selected Anthony Richardson out of Florida.
Four years following the sudden, unexpected retirement of franchise cornerstone Andrew Luck. It's been a long, often painful road, but the Colts hope they are finally off the ride.
At 6'4", 244 pounds, Richardson brings an imposing physical presence. On top of that, he tested as the most athletic quarterback in pre-draft measurement in NFL history, so you're looking at a quarterback with great size and even better athleticism.
He started just 13 games in college but showed clear growth as a passer throughout his lone starting season, including the ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes and body language. Richardson has a cannon for an arm but doesn't always temper the velocity. His mechanics also need a little work, so once he marries the mechanics with his pure athletic abilities, the sky could be the limit.
The Colts pair Richardson with new head coach Shane Steichen, who already has a reputation for getting the most out of his quarterbacks and helping young players develop. In 2020, he helped Justin Herbert earn Offensive Rookie of the Year, and last season he coached Jalen Hurts to second in NFL MVP voting in just the quarterback's second season as a starter.
According to the Indy Draft Guide, here is how Richardson fits with the Colts:
Richardson could be the alien the Colts have been searching for at quarterback since Andrew Luck retired. Arguably the most athletic quarterback prospect the NFL has ever seen with his combination of size, speed, and explosiveness, Richardson also has the strongest arm in the class. While he has issues with his mechanics that need to be cleaned up, Richardson is not as raw as people might think and has shown to improve with reps and experience. With Shane Steichen at the helm directing his development and the system he will be in, the sky’s the limit for Richardson in Indy.
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