You know your ceiling as an NFL quarterback is high when you’re being compared to a recent MVP award winner.
Such is the case with new Florida Gators product Anthony Richardson. The dual-threat quarterback was taken fourth overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft three weeks ago in Kansas City, Missouri.
The 20-year-old Richardson was the third quarterback selected in the 2023 draft, behind Alabama’s Bryce Young (first overall to the Carolina Panthers) and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (second overall to the Houston Texans.
Speaking to Kenneth Teape of NFL Analysis Network, a former NFL executive suggested that Richardson has a higher ceiling than Baltimore Ravens star quarterback and 2019 league MVP Lamar Jackson:
“The kid simply has it all. He’s got the body, he has the arm, he has the coachability. I think his ceiling is a much better version of Lamar Jackson.”
Richardson only started 13 games during his tenure with the Gators, but the all-world skill set is simply hard to overlook. The 6-foot-4, 232-pound Richardson tossed 2,549 passing yards and 17 touchdowns for the Gators in 2022, along with 654 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
Many scouts and analysts have compared Richardson to ex-Carolina Panthers star Cam Newton, a former dual-threat star who won the 2015 league MVP after leading his team to a 15-1 season as well as a Super Bowl 50 appearance.
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The Colts have endured well-documented problems at quarterback since Andrew Luck’s stunning retirement ahead of the 2019 season. Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan didn’t pan out as long-term starting options.
For their sake, the Colts can only hope that Richardson gives this team long-term stability at the game’s most important position.
