With the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Florida quarterback, Anthony Richardson. The Colts have been waiting for a moment like that for years as they finally have a long-term option at the quarterback position following Andrew Luck’s unexpected retirement ahead of the 2019 season.
Anthony Richardson’s production with the Gators left a lot to be desired, as the stat sheet doesn’t scream No. 4 pick. But, the potential he possesses is unmatched with his combination of size and athleticism.
He landed in a great spot as his head coach, Shane Steichen, worked wonders with Jalen Hurts as the offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. With a solid supporting cast around him, the pieces are in place for Anthony Richardson to find sustained success in Indianapolis.
What can we expect to see from the Florida product in Year 1? Here are three early bold predictions for Anthony Richardson in 2023.
3. Earns Starting Job Week 1
Whenever a new head coach takes over, he will bring along some players from his previous stop to make the transition easier. One player who followed Steichen to the Colts was quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Minshew has a leg up when it comes to learning the system, as he played under Steichen the last two seasons. While he will likely get some of the starter’s reps in the early going, it will be Anthony Richardson eventually taking over the starting job this offseason.
During the offseason programs and training camp, Anthony Richardson will do enough to get the starting job in Week 1, kicking off a new era of Colts football. Some development is needed, but there is no better way to learn than on-the-job training.
2. Breaks Rookie Quarterback Record
The only other quarterback to record a 99 athleticism score since 2003 as Anthony Richardson did during the 2023 NFL Combine was Robert Griffin III. Griffin, who had a track background, was electrifying early in his career before a devastating knee injury derailed things.
During his rookie season, Griffin set the NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 818 in 15 games. That record will be beaten this season by Anthony Richardson, who will take advantage of having two more games to play.
In 22 games at Florida, he rushed for 1,116 yards and 12 touchdowns. That is certainly the strength of his game currently and the Colts will lean into that, just as they did with Hurts earlier in his career. It will yield some very positive results as Anthony Richardson will surpass the 900-yard mark as a rookie.
1. Wins Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
The race for the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award is going to be a great one this season. Numerous first-round picks landed in advantageous spots that will present opportunities to produce right out of the gate. There is almost always a player that comes out of nowhere and throws their hat into the ring as well.
While this award isn’t dominated by quarterbacks like, it will be Anthony Richardson who takes it home. Being the starter from Day 1 will give him a leg up on the competition as he will have a chance to produce some big numbers right out of the gate.
Indianapolis also has a pretty good roster as competent quarterback play last season would have had them in the playoff mix. With a record-breaking performance and a competitive team, this award is Anthony Richardson’s to lose.
