When the Indianapolis Colts selected quarterback Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, many thought it would be a move that would take time to develop. No one seriously thought that Richardson had a legitimate chance to win the starting job to begin the season. That has changed so far in OTA’s.
Richardson has been splitting first-team reps with veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew. That does not mean he will win the starting job, but Jim Irsay has been very vocal about his desire for Richardson to play early.
In a recent media session, head coach Shane Steichen spoke out honestly about Richardson. It’s clear that he is turning the heads of the coaching staff already.
“He made some big plays today… some next-level stuff.”
The term “next-level stuff” is something that fans have heard a lot of attached to Richardson. His ability to make plays both in and out of the pocket has been impressive. While he has a lot of raw talent, he has been much more NFL-ready than many even in Indianapolis had thought.
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During the 2022 season with the Florida Gators, Richardson ended up completing just 53.8 percent of his pass attempts for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Those numbers don’t look great, but he didn’t have a good supporting cast around him either. In addition to his passing numbers, he racked up 654 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Standing in at 6-foot-4 and a shade over 230 pounds, Richardson has elite size for an NFL quarterback. Even at his large stature, he has the speed and quickness to be a Lamar Jackson type of impact player.
Expect to see Anthony Richardson seriously compete for the Colts’ starting quarterback job. Minshew may end up starting in Week 1, but fans should thoroughly expect to see him play at some point in the first half of the year at the very least.
