The beginning of the 2023 NFL Draft saw what many thought to be the top two quarterback prospects immediately taken off the board. The Colts were, apparently, unfazed. Not only were they able to fill a position of need when drafting Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, they were able to get the exact guy they wanted, as well. 
In a press conference after selecting Richardson No. 4 overall, Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed that and more. According to a number of quotes provided by The Athletic’s Zak Keefer, Irsay claimed he had had a feeling that Richardson would be their guy “even back in February,” going as far as calling the 20-year-old three hours before the first round to inform him of the team’s intentions. Irsay was so bullish on Richardson that he told the media that “even if (they) had the first pick in the draft, (they) would’ve probably taken” Richardson.
Not only was Irsay sure that Richardson would be a Colt, according to Judy Battista of NFL Network, he went as far as to say that Richardson “will start this season.” Richardson has the same ideas in his head, according to Keefer. The former-Gator is ready for the immense pressure of becoming the Colts’ next franchise quarterback, following in the steps of Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck.
It’s not a necessity, though. Despite being a top five pick, Richardson does have the luxury of time, if necessary. Indianapolis has a trio of passers with starting experience it can depend on before forcing the rookie into the starting lineup.
Veteran Gardner Minshew was reunited with head coach Shane Steichen after signing with the Colts two weeks ago. Minshew hasn’t been a consistent starter since his days in Jacksonville, but he does have two starts in each of the past two years with the Eagles. The team also rosters Nick Foles, perhaps the greatest backup quarterback in the history of the NFL, who also hasn’t started consistently since 2020. The Colts have Sam Ehlinger, as well, who started three games for Indianapolis in his sophomore season last year.
After back-to-back-to-back seasons with one-year rentals at the quarterback position, there is certainly an expectation that Richardson will be the quarterback of the future for Indy. Along with that expectation and his draft position come the pressure for Richardson to take the reins of the starting job. With only 13 starts at the college level, starts in the NFL may be exactly what Richardson needs in order to advance his development.
Despite the anticipation of Irsay and Richardson himself, though, the youngster has time. With Minshew, Foles, and Ehlinger all on roster, there’s absolutely no need to force Richardson into a situation he isn’t ready for. If he’s ready, though, it sounds like both parties are ready to see the first-round pick under center with the first-team offense in 2023.
He will never develop into an effective nfl qb.
All season and offseason, his 2 biggest flaws are footwork and accuracy. Pretty important traits to be a good-great NFL QB. But no different than everyone saying how ‘Great of a runner Fields and Lamar are!!!’ Last time I checked the NFL was a passing league.
Elite arm talent with questionable decision making and interception issues in college. Not too dissimilar to pre-draft assessments of Mahomes. Richardson is more of a typical pocket passer compared to Mahomes but when you have a chance at elite arm talent like Richardson and have been as desperate for a QB as Indy this is a no-brainer. Richardson is the biggest boom or bust in the draft but I sincerely hope he is the real deal for Colts fans sake.
Everyone here is spot on. Watched all the Gator games and can say he didn’t impress, and if anything, frustrated. Poor decision making and accuracy aren’t going to play well in the NFL. And while he’s extremely gifted as an athlete, the NFL is a much faster game and his speed won’t always bail him out.
I’m not going to bother comparing Mahomes and Richardson as prospects, but Mahomes went to a team with Andy Reid as a head coach, a loaded offensive roster, and a good starter and mentor in Alex Smith. Those things are what shaped Mahomes’ raw talent into the player that he is today. If he had gone to a team without those elements it is difficult to tell what would have happened. Reid is a unique coach who had highly qualified assistants, and we can’t forget how much that can influence a young player.
Richardson really needed a lot more experience, honestly, to help his issues. Everything that he lags behind in-reading the field, progressing to the right option, having cognizance of multiple receivers, recognizing and anticipating pressure-are things that come with experience and reps. Sure, he would have run the risk of injury by staying another year and it wouldn’t boost his draft position much higher than third, but he would have very likely extended his NFL career by being a better passer (both by being more effective and by not having to rely on his legs as much).
Dak Prescott, I think, is a better example (ironically tutored by Dan Mullen, who get the Florida job soon after). Prescott in his junior year was though of a possible NFL talent, but had serious questions about his passing. He returned to Mississippi State and improved his passing ability, which got him drafted higher and has extended his NFL lifespan. Prescott could have been drafted as a running quarterback in his junior year and had a handful of years in the NFL, but he returned, got more experience, and been a starter for some time now. Richardson is bigger and more athletically talented, and definitely could have used another year of warming up to SEC defenses than having to sharpen his skills against NFL teams now. He needs to play, no question about it, but it’s going to be messy as he gains experience, and there’s no guarantee that it will be successful.
Well then lucky for him, with good work ethic footwork is correctable. And if have poor accuracy due to footwork, then that is also correctable.
I think, as with any QB, it’s going to depend on the coaching, the system he plays in, and the expectations placed upon him. The absolute worst thing they could do to this guy is start him in week 1, though. He’s a high ceiling, low floor type of QB. They’d be wise to give him time and work with him before running him out on the field.
I don’t know, I kind of think that he needs to play soon. Sitting him until he is able to run the offense makes sense, but I don’t think that he’ll be able to simulate the experience he needs by studying the playbook. Richardson isn’t a cerebral quarterback who will win by out-strategizing a defense, at least not right now. He needs to develop the right habits as a player, which I don’t think he will do on the bench. The rest I do agree with you on.
Someone like Hendon Hooker I think benefits more from studying than someone like Richardson, because he has pretty good instincts as a passer right now. Also, Hooker has learned offenses in the past, so it may be more natural for him to learn the characteristics of a playbook by studying it.
I can see the other side of that coin. I think sitting him for awhile may give them time to work with him on his mechanics some, though. Additionally, I think it takes some pressure off. I don’t expect the Colts will be contenders for a playoff berth, so let the team fall out of that race and play him when the games are meaningless. If he throws a few picks, people will be more forgiving.
I do agree he needs game reps to gain experience, I just wouldn’t put him in those games until at least week 8.
I could see that. I suppose we’ll see how successful their approach will be, whatever they choose, but I think that there’s a lot of work ahead for them either way. I’m separately disappointed slightly that Minshew will never get a legitimate chance to start somewhere, but for the Colts, he gives them a great security blanket in case Richardson doesn’t start or absolutely tanks.
Well, at least they have Ehlinger.
Irsay is a bigger buffoon than his father,with even less knowledge about the game. Throw this very raw kid into starter day one and drafting back to back quarterbacks sounds like genius.
They’re obviously not going to carry 4 QBs into the season. So, Ehlinger or Foles will be cut or traded.
Foles was tied to the old regime almost entirely, and Ehlinger has game experience now to go on his resume. Given that Minshew was brought in by Steichen and has experience with Philly’s scheme, I think both agree that he’s staying put. I wouldn’t be surprised if neither Ehlinger nor Foles is in Indianapolis at the start of the year.
I’m not sure the Colts have a clue as to what they are doing – thus you should fully expect Irsay to order Shane Steichen to put Richardson on the field for regular season game 1.
He is definition of a ‘project’ gonna need coaching up2 help get that comp% up frm 53.8, couldn’t do the lil things in college 2be elite gonna be much tougher in the pros 2figure it out