It’s attention-grabbing watching the rollercoaster of opinions the media has on sure prospects main as much as the NFL Draft. For virtually the whole thing of the 2022 NFL and faculty soccer seasons, the consensus top-three quarterbacks within the 2023 class have been Alabama’s Bryce Young, Kentucky’s Will Levis, and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Florida’s Anthony Richardson was projected by some to be an early first-round draft decide previous to the 2022 season, however Richardson didn’t take the monumental leap that many analysts assumed he would. He’d fallen out of favor with draft media, and was only a mere projected mid-first-round decide. Slowly however absolutely although, as increasingly more folks watched Richardson’s movie, the belief started rising once more. In the previous few months, Richardson has gone from the fourth-best quarterback to a potential top-ten decide and now lastly, he’s come full circle, with some folks projecting him to go first general.
Of course, this opinion, courtesy of Chris Trapasso with CBS Sports comes with a number of stipulations. He believes the Indianapolis Colts will commerce up for the primary general decide and choose Richardson. He additionally believes this prediction will grow to be extra mainstream after Richardson “blows the roof off Lucas Oil Stadium at the combine.” And frankly, I don’t disagree with that evaluation — the latter one, I must be clear. While I doubt the Texans will move up on the chance to present new head coach DeMeco Ryans the quarterback of his selecting, I don’t assume Richardson is off the desk for them simply but.
The extra I’ve learn and watched about Richardson, the extra I’ve taken to the potential for him being taken first general. His athleticism, higher physique power (displayed finest whereas throwing on the run), and fast launch all greater than make up for his poor discipline imaginative and prescient and indecisiveness for my part, particularly contemplating {that a} good NFL system wouldn’t pressure Richardson to make a number of reads and fast selections. Ryans, hailing from the Kyle Shanahan teaching tree, could be a possible candidate to undertake such a system. Also, even when Ryans’ offensive scheme doesn’t help such a quarterback, these flaws may be ironed out as Richardson features extra expertise and confidence, which he desperately wants.
Still, regardless of his unbelievable instruments, there’ll clearly be some skeptics, not sure of somebody who shot as much as the highest of draft boards so shortly. Fans have been burned by guys like Zach Wilson far too usually to not be skeptical. That mentioned, I discover Richardson’s argument way more acceptable than folks had for guys like Wilson. Most importantly, Wilson didn’t have the form of athleticism that Richardson has. Even if Richardson doesn’t develop his accuracy, mechanics, or decision-making in any respect, he’d nonetheless be a potent offensive weapon due to his means to run. His professional comparability is Cam Newton for goodness sake. Regardless of his means to throw, Newton was nonetheless a formidable opponent because of the risk of his legs. Richardson, on the very least, may present worth in that division.
Furthermore, the place Wilson blew everybody’s thoughts was throughout his Pro Day, surrounded by folks he was aware of in an area he knew properly, Richardson can have a chance to impress at an official NFL Combine — which Wilson by no means had the chance to do because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Richardson will endure the usual assessments that Wilson by no means did, and regardless that Wilson’s professional day was placed on a nationwide stage, Richardson shall be in a way more hostile atmosphere. If he “blows the roof off” in that state of affairs, he ought to get the reward that Trapasso expresses.
Of course, this decide can be dangerous. No one is denying that. Richardson is a reasonably inexperienced prospect, and understanding so little a couple of prospect may be scary. Look no additional than the person San Francisco traded three first-round picks to get, Trey Lance. Very little was identified about him, however the 49ers took their shot and it hasn’t panned out to this point. I’m not saying Lance is a bust, however clearly, folks have been sad with how that decide has turned out two years later. There’s a assured layup ready on the first general decide with Bryce Young. No one will throw their arms within the air in contempt for such a call.
Maybe that’s sufficient to maintain the Texans and Colts away from Richardson. Both groups have GMs — Nick Caserio and Chris Ballard — whose seats are warming up heading into 2023. At the identical time, the Colts have tried enjoying it secure on the quarterback place for years. They opted for veteran quarterbacks Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan every of the final three seasons. They knew the whole lot there was to know for these three and look how that turned out. Maybe the chance on such an inexperienced prospect is precisely what Ballard wants to show that franchise round. If they have been going to do it with anyone, why not the man so many individuals have warmed as much as just lately? Why not the man that was a projected early-round decide previous to the season? Why not the man with so many athletic instruments he’s just about the other of 37-year-old Matt Ryan and 39-year-old Philip Rivers? I’m not saying he ought to go first general, however I get why persons are contemplating it, and if you happen to ask me, they need to’ve been contemplating it a lot sooner.