Could Anthony Richardson be the first overall pick in this April’s draft?
Before you answer “no” and close out this tab, consider his odds of being drafted first overall, which have increased in a big way since last Thursday.
On Feb. 16, his odds were +10000 to be drafted with the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which felt accurate considering most mock drafts had him projected no higher than ninth overall to the Panthers.
His odds shortened considerably in the days since. On Wednesday, the odds of Richardson being drafted first overall were at +3000.
Quarterbacks Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Will Levis emerged early as the top three QBs in the 2023 class, but Richardson gives the class a fourth prospect with tantalizing potential.
His dual-threat capabilities are in line with the direction the league is headed and he has plenty of time to rise on draft boards.
Richardson is routinely described as a project, someone that will require patience from whatever team drafts him. His tape suggests he isn’t far from being an NFL starter.
Sports journalist Michael Balko highlighted several of Richardson’s plays earlier this month that demonstrate why a team might have the former Florida QB at the top of its big board.
Against Georgia, he made multiple big-time throws, both from a clean pocket as well as ones when he created magic out of impossible situations.
He only completed 53.8 percent of his passes during his final year at Florida, but as one of the highlights Balko shared reveals, his incompletions are as impressive as other QBs’ highlights.
Under duress, he does a phenomenal job of evading pressure, such as on the play above against Utah. While the pass was incomplete, his ability to turn what would have been a sack for many QBs into an incompletion can’t be taught. As the play against Utah also shows, no matter the circumstance, his skillset gives him a chance.
His increasing odds of being the No. 1 overall pick reflect that.
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