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Todd McShay calls Anthony Richardson ‘the most interesting player in the draft,’ cautions that ‘he’s not ready’ for NFL
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Todd McShay will be a big part of ESPN’s coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft, which will take place in Kansas City from April 27 to April 29.
There are 4 quarterbacks widely considered to be near-locks to go in Round 1 — Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson.
In a column by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, McShay said Richardson’s inconsistency, when paired with his physical gifts, is driving him crazy. He added he doesn’t believe Richardson is ready for the NFL yet:
“He’s absolutely the most interesting player in the draft,” says McShay. “I promise you it’s driving me crazy, watching Utah tape, then a disaster against Kentucky, he’s 6’4″, 234 pounds, rifle for an arm, mobile as can be, all the potential in the world and a really good guy that you want to root for, that everyone in the building loves. … A good guy, the most physically talented, but he’s not ready. He’s just not there yet.”
Richardson will be at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week. We’ll see if he manages to wow scouts.
Adam’s take on Anthony Richardson
It only takes 1 team to become enamored with Richardson to make him a first-round pick. The talent is tantalizing. There’s nothing Richardson can’t do on a football field.
The lack of consistency is certainly concerning, though. Of all the potential Round 1 quarterbacks this year, it seems safe to say that Richardson has both the highest ceiling and the lowest floor in the group. He’ll need to go to a team with a strong, established offensive coaching staff to reach his full potential.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
