Mel Kiper Jr. recently unveiled his latest mock looking at the 2023 NFL Draft. This time around, Kiper has a new name at the No. 1 overall spot and four quarterbacks in the top 5 picks.

For now, Kiper has CJ Stroud out of Ohio State going No. 1 overall to the Carolina Panthers. He also projects the rest of the top QBs to come off the board early on, including Anthony Richardson going No. 5 to the Seattle Seahawks.

During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Kiper explained why  he still believes the Florida product could be the best of the entire group when it is all said and done:

“He could be the best of his group with Will Levis of Kentucky in there. You talk about Anthony Richardson, I saw him Sept. 3 against Utah, he looked like the No. 1 pick overall guaranteed,” explained Kiper. “You could put it in pen. He was phenomenal. His legs, the way he could run the football. He was going to be an elite running QB right away. He showed big-time arm strength, he was making accurate throws. He was doing everything.

“The next week at Kentucky, he was 40% with a couple of picks and not the running threat because Kentucky designed their defense to shut him down and frustrate him. His accuracy, missing layups, easy throws needs to be changed, it needs to be fixed, but you can’t teach or coach that kind of talent.”

Richardson’s potential fit in Seattle

Should Richardson land in Seattle, it would appear — on paper — to be a good spot for him to grow his game. Richardson would join recently extended QB Geno Smith who certainly has seen it all around the NFL.

A former 2nd-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Smith spent multiple years as a backup after losing a starting job with the New York Jets. Smith rebounded with the AP Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2022 while leading the Seahawks to a 9-8 record.

While Richardson might not be in line to start right away if drafted by the Seahawks, it would provide a good opportunity for him to learn behind Smith as a rookie before competing for a starting job in the near future. We’ll see if that’s where Richardson winds up in April.