The Indianapolis Colts stayed put with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. There were tense moments, such as when Arizona traded the third overall pick. But when it was revealed the selection was going to Houston, the fears of it being to a team that needs a quarterback were alleviated. So, the Colts were able to get their man, Anthony Richardson, out of Florida.
In the final days and hours leading up to the draft, the conversation about who the Colts would take came down to Will Levis and Anthony Richardson. The fanbase was mostly divided on those two, and you would be hard-pressed to get a fan to rationally see the point of view of the other quarterback. So, at least half of the fan base is ecstatic and overjoyed. While the other part of the fan base must now come to terms with their new franchise quarterback.
Richardson is a 6-foot-4, 244-pound quarterback who runs a 4.43 40-yard dash with a 40.5” vertical and a 10’9” broad jump at the NFL combine. His workout there was one of the best ever, and not just from a quarterback.
He has all the physical and measurable tools that the Colts desire. When you factor in the type of offense that head coach Shane Steichen wants to run, it becomes clear that Richardson was the best choice for the team.
With that being said, nobody should be expecting Richardson to light up the NFL right away. There is still a lot in his game to improve upon. For example, his footwork and mechanics need better coaching. You can expect to see the typical ups and downs from a rookie quarterback this year as he gets acclimated to NFL-level speed and defensive disguises.
However, there is one thing you can plainly see with Richardson when you watch his games from last season. As the season progressed, so did he. You can see it from game to game. There were times when he missed a throw or when the defense confused him. But he learned from his mistakes. So, when he says he will outwork everyone to be the best, you can believe him.
The Indianapolis Colts got their franchise quarterback. Now, it’s time for this quarterback-developing coaching staff to work on improving Richardson’s game, creating an offense that will best suit his abilities in year one.