Steichen: Richardson's Character 'Right at the Top of the List'

The Indianapolis Colts finally took a swing for the fences and drafted quarterback Anthony Richardson out of Florida with the fourth overall pick on Thursday night in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

They've been treading offensive water for four years as they search for their long-term answer at quarterback, and the hope inside the building is that Richardson can become that answer.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen spoke about their newest offensive playmaker after his selection. Here's what they had to say.

What makes Richardson the man for the job?

Ballard explaining some of the selling points of picking Richardson: “Yeah, well look, he’s young. He’s young, but he’s very poised. I think you see it when he plays... Even though he hasn’t had a lot of starts, just the one thing that I kept going back and watching, all his pressures. Everybody that pressured him. That’s when you really saw his poise come to light... He turns 21 here in the middle of May, so he’s going to have growing to do, like all of them do. We’ll help him, we’ll help him, we’ll bring him along and he’ll be a good player for us.”

Steichen on what helped sell him on Richardson: “Yeah, I think just his character. The vetting process that we did, calling around people that know him, that have been around him, that’s a big part of this thing. There are a lot of guys that I know that I trust that I talked to about him and everything was, you know, right at the top of the list as far as that's concerned. Then, just going through having him here, getting to know him as a person, talking football with him, I think he’s got a chance to be a really good player in this league.”

Colts were getting nervous that they wouldn't get Richardson.

Ballard on why the Colts were getting tense while the draft developed in front of them, sitting at the fourth pick: “Anytime you’re sitting there and you’ve kind of targeted a guy in front of you, you always worry about somebody jumping up and getting him, you always wonder if somebody’s laying in the weeds and good for us, they weren’t.”

Ballard on if the Colts pursued Richardson: “We liked him a lot... Yeah, we liked him a lot.”

Ballard on if the Colts discussed trading up to No. 3 with the Arizona Cardinals: “We talked to them. Yeah. But at the end of the day, we just said, 'You know what, we’re just going to sit and wait.'”

Richardson won't be handed the starting job, but his future is bright.

Ballard on Richardson during his opening statement: "Let’s not crown him yet. He’s a young player, he’s got work to do but we like his talent. We like what he can be. I don’t (think) Shane could tell you either, but what I can tell you is we drafted him for what we think he can really be in the future. He’s a very smart young man. Good kid, he works, we think it’s all in front of him. So, we’re excited to get him."

Ballard on Richardson's 54.7% career completion percentage: “I mean, there’s always – it’s fair. That’s a fair assessment. I think the one thing we’re seeing in the league now is guys you can work on and get them more accurate. Just footwork, fundamentals, there are certain things I think we can do and I think you’ve seen guys jump in our league. I think you’ll see him jump.”

Ballard on any expectations that there's pressure to start Richardson early: “I’m not going to say that. He’s got to come in and earn his way like every player we bring in. Let’s not expect him to be Superman from day one. I think history has shown there’s not many of them that are Superman from day one. Some of them it takes two, three years for them to become a really good player. It’s probably the one area where I’ve seen it, and this is even before me being in the league, it’s the one area where teams that, the pressure for these guys after one or two years – back 10, 15 years ago, guys would get year three, four, five. Think about it. Terry Bradshaw, he might have never played in today’s NFL. It took him time in Pittsburgh. We’ve got to let these guys develop and play. They’re going to have some struggles and then they’ve got to work through the struggles and eventually, their talent, the more they play, their talent will come to life.”

Steichen on if Richardson's ability to avoid pressure is ahead of schedule: “Yeah, I think with anything, I think the development of players comes with more experience. 13 starts, I think when you play more, that’s how you develop. You know what I mean? So, with him playing and his experience as a player and getting more reps, practice reps, game reps, I think that’s how you develop.”

Steichen on if Richardson's poise is an indicator of his ability to develop: “Yeah, there’s no doubt. I mean, when you watch him against the pressure in the pocket, just his movements in the pocket, feeling the rush, not seeing it, being able to get out of the pocket and create the explosive plays that he does is pretty dynamic.”

The Colts planted their Anthony Richardson seeds last summer.

Ballard on the Colts' process of studying Richardson, including messages he got from Colts Chief Personnel Executive back in August: “Yeah, we spent an entire day with him down at Florida. I mean, we actually worked him out, I know there were some comments made that other teams went and worked out and go to see more, but I think when we went and worked him out, we got to see a lot because we got to put him through drills with just us. Then, we brought him into the building and spent another full day with him. Then, give our scouts credit now. Morocco Brown went in. Like back in August, I’m getting these text messages from Morocco, he’s at Florida practice saying, ‘You should see the show that I’m watching on this practice field right now.’ So, we had some awareness of who he was and what his talent level was a while ago.”

Richardson's mobility raises his floor.

Steichen on Richardson's ability to run giving him a better bottom line: “That’s a good question – that definitely helps. When a guy can run and add that element to your offense it’s a big plus. It puts stress on defenses and obviously, he has that capability. I just wouldn’t sleep on his throwing ability either. That ball comes out pretty now. He can spin it. He’s got a huge arm and he’s made some huge plays in the pass game. We’re excited to work with him.”

The moment they knew.

Ballard on when he became comfortable with selecting Richardson: “A month ago... After we spent time with him, we knew after we spent our time, worked him out, spent a lot of time with him, just felt really good about who he was as a person. Of course, he’s still young but just felt really good about who he was.”

Steichen on his first impressions of Richardson: “Yeah, obviously the tape was the first time I saw him. Just his playmaking ability, what he brings from a playmaking ability, his physical skillset is impressive. Obviously, there’s a lot of work that we’ve got to do – the whole team, not just him. There are certain things that he brings to the table that we’re so excited about as a football player in the future of this organization.”

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