Surging: Florida QB Anthony Richardson

SOURCE: GRINDING THE MOCKS

Every year, the NFL Draft brings excitement and anticipation for football fans and analysts alike. It's a time when teams have the opportunity to add new talent to their rosters, and when college players have the chance to make their dreams of playing at the professional level a reality. And every year, there are always a few players who rise up draft boards in unexpected ways. This year, one of those players is Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.

In a recent article published by FiveThirtyEight, author Josh Hermsmeyer explores Richardson's rise in the pre-draft process. According to data collected by Ben Robinson on Grinding the Mocks, Richardson's draft stock has skyrocketed from the final third of the first round in December to a possible top-five selection. This is a significant jump, especially considering that Richardson's rise began after the 2022 college football season ended, but prior to any athletic measurements at the combine.

So, what is it about Richardson that has NFL teams so interested? According to Hermsmeyer, it's his athleticism and physical traits. Richardson's combine performance revealed him to be one of, if not the most, athletic quarterbacks ever tested. His athletic ability was obvious on the field all season, but his production was middling at best. Richardson finished the season with a Total QBR of 71.2, good for 24th out of 64 qualified Power Five quarterbacks, and his pure accuracy was very poor, ranking eighth-worst among qualified Power Five QBs in catchable pass attempt rate (69.9 percent).

However, some teams are placing an emphasis on athleticism and physical traits even when there are questions about passing. In recent years, players like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts have proven that a lack of accuracy doesn't necessarily mean a quarterback can't be successful in the NFL. These teams appear willing to take a gamble on Richardson, who is still just 20 years old, and hope that he can grow into an elite NFL talent.

The recent successes of prospects like Jackson and Allen are balanced by a long history of failed prospects. For upside-heavy QBs like Richardson, the only winning move is to play. Whether he lives up to his pre-draft hype or not remains to be seen, but there's no denying that Richardson's rise has been one of the most intriguing storylines of this year's draft season.

In conclusion, Anthony Richardson's rise in the pre-draft process is a testament to the importance of athleticism and physical traits in quarterback evaluations, and I would not be surprised if he was a top five pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

Postscript: Anthony Richardson was selected 4th overall by the Indianapolis Colts!