As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Anthony Richardson.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida)
Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida)
6’4″ – 232 lbs.
Background:
Four-star recruit who redshirted in 2020, then started one of eight games played in 2021 (Georgia), finishing the year with 527 yards (58.7%, 8.4 YPA), six touchdowns and five interceptions, along with a 51-401-3 (7.9) rushing line. Declared after a redshirt sophomore campaign in which he finished with 2,549 yards (53.8%, 7.8 YPA), 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions, adding 103-654-9 (6.3) on the ground.
Positives:
Really looks the part of a pro quarterback, with impressive size/bulk. Rare athlete for the position. Elusive, powerful runner on read options, which were a major part of the offense. Sets up without a heel click. Gets the ball out quickly on short throws, with decisive throws and a quick release. Flashes the ability to go through progressions and manipulate defenders with his eyes.
Very impressive velocity on his throws; has the arm strength to complete any type of pass, and is confident enough to throw into tight windows. Throws the deep ball well. Knows when to take something off of passes. Ball placement over the middle of the field is adequate. Shows the ability to layer passes over the top of zones. Worked well off of play action (10.7 YPA, eleven touchdowns, two interceptions), representing over 37% of the team’s passing attempts. Able to escape pressure and extend the play. Completes passes when rolling to his right.
Negatives:
Only has one year of starting experience. Sprays the ball wildly due to inconsistent mechanics. Completed fewer than 55% of his throws in college, and accuracy generally doesn’t improve significantly at the next level. A relatively high rate of completed passes required adjustments that limited yards after the catch. Doesn’t always transfer weight effectively, throwing without a foundation and relying on raw arm strength to muscle the ball downfield. Base gets narrow at times in the pocket. Runs himself into pressure at times rather than hanging in a clean pocket. Could be better at killing plays rather than taking chances on risky throws; made too many attempts off of his back foot or under heavy pressure. Some missed opportunities on tape where bigger plays were available. Struggled when not operating off of play-action (50.7%, 6.1 YPA, six touchdowns and seven interceptions). Was often under pressure (37.6% of dropbacks), so some bad habits may improve with better line play.
Summary:
Major boom-or-bust type prospect with a tantalizing combination of size, athleticism and arm talent, but was highly inconsistent in school, especially when the team wasn’t running play-action. There are major warning signs mostly relating to accuracy and his willingness to take risks rather than giving up on plays. Could be a high-end starter if he continues to develop, and there’s some reason to believe that with better protection, some of his bad habits will be limited. It’s possible someone decides to take a chance on him in the first round and that he is too talented at too important a position to drop too far.
Projection: Round 1-2
Other 2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Prospects
- Max Duggan (QB – TCU)
- Jaren Hall (QB – Brigham Young)
- Hendon Hooker (QB – Tennessee)
- Will Levis (QB – Kentucky)
- Tanner McKee (QB – Stanford)
- CJ Stroud (QB – Ohio State)
- Bryce Young (QB – Alabama)
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