Falcons EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Richardson to Visit; Teammates Scout 'Cam Jackson' QB

It's possible no player in the 2023 NFL Draft class is more tantalizing than Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The fast-running, high-jumping, back-flipping, long-throwing 20-year-old has perhaps the most upside of any signal caller in the draft, but he completed only 53.8 percent of his passes in 2022, his first as a full-time starter.

As such, teams around the league are left digging deeper into Richardson - can he reach his ceiling? What's he made up of? Will he be able to start early?

The Atlanta Falcons, who held a formal interview with Richardson at the NFL Combine, will get their second chance to speak privately with the Gainesville, Fla., native, as they're set for a top-30 visit this week, aiming to answer these questions and much more.

But ahead of that, SI's Falcon Report had the opportunity to ask two 2023 NFL Draft prospects and former teammates of Richardson's - safety Trey Dean III and linebacker Mohamoud Diabate - their thoughts on him.

Here are their testimonies ...

For three years, Diabate was a consistent presence on the Gators' sideline ... but during Week 1 of this past season, he found himself on the opposite side.

The offseason prior, Diabate transferred to Utah - who just so happened to be playing in "The Swamp" to start off their season.

There were several familiar faces but also plenty of new ones, highlighted by Florida's brand-new coaching staff and the ever-changing roster moves stemming from the transfer portal.

Utah, then ranked No. 7, ultimately lost to the unranked Gators, 29-26, on a last-second interception ... but only after a stellar performance from Richardson, who was making only his second career start.

The 6-4, 244-pound Richardson completed just under 71 percent of his passes for 168 yards while dominating on the ground, rushing for 106 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries.

Richardson earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors and was named the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week. Diabate left Gainesville with an experience he dubbed "great" ... but added that he "wished we would've won."

Another thing Diabate departed with? A glowing endorsement of Richardson and a strong pitch to NFL teams ...

"Very simply: I played against Anthony Richardson, and I played with Anthony Richardson - I would much rather be with him," Diabate said.

In essence - should a team pass on Richardson, they're accepting the risk that he reaches his upside ... which Diabate strongly warns against.

"Any NFL team, you would much rather have him than have to deal with him if he gets developed," said Diabate.

Dean saw a lot of quarterbacks in his time at Florida - a lot.

A fifth-year senior who took the extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic, Dean played in 62 games across five years for the Gators.

Perhaps most importantly, he saw Richardson from the moment he arrived on campus and competed against him in practice every day.

With Dean eager to finish his lengthy college career on a high, Richardson was his offense's primary hope - and while a 6-6 regular season didn't exactly accomplish that, Dean's takeaway from Richardson wasn't affected.

"Great player, great player," Dean said. "Anything that people doubt on Anthony Richardson, I know for a fact that he's going to go in and work, and he's humble. He's willing to work and gets better each and every week in practice."

This is crucial for Richardson's future.

There are, naturally, different views on how pro-ready he is. But regardless, few would argue that he's particularly close to reaching his ceiling.

Richardson's an athletic freak who simply moves differently from nearly every quarterback prospect in recent memory and has shown brilliance at times as a passer.

He's given himself the nickname "Cam Jackson" - a mix between Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson, two former MVPs who electrified crowds with their playmaking and off-structure ability. Richardson's upside certainly puts him in a similar conversation.

But whether he ultimately reaches that may come down to his commitment and, simply, his capacity for improvement - and according to Dean, Richardson grades highly in both.

Another area that could prove key to Richardson's long-term outlook? His ability to handle adversity ... which he passes with flying colors.

"It's easy to go out there when everything's high, everything's going your way," said Dean. "But when the ball's rolling the other way, how do you respond?

"Great player."

Richardson's strong pre-draft process has likely vaulted him into the top-five, and with Atlanta holding the No. 8 overall selection, the pairing seems unlikely.

Further, Falcons coach Arthur Smith, general manager Terry Fontenot and owner Arthur Blank have already committed to last year's third-round pick, Desmond Ridder, as the team's starter under center.

But still, there's work being done on the top of the quarterback class, and there's an element of intrigue surrounding Richardson - especially his upside.

And really, why shouldn't there be?

Diabate and Dean saw Richardson develop for two and three years, respectively; they went to battle in hotly contested SEC rivalry games with him under center.

If anybody knows what Richardson's made of and what his future entails, it's those who lived through his Florida career right next to him, through thick and thin.

And by all accounts, their endorsements couldn't be more glowing.

Richardson's a "great player" - but he's also humble, tough-minded and "willing to work."

And for that, teams are lining up for his talents - because they'd "much rather be with" Richardson than have to face him for years to come.

You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Falcons? Click Here.

Follow Falcon Report on Twitter.

Want even more Atlanta Falcons news? Check out the Si.com team page here