Former NFL Scout Says Anthony Richardson Looks Like A Bust

Don’t believe the hype about the Gator’s Anthony Richardson.

Not because I say so, but because the game film on this Florida quarterback (QB) says you shouldn’t.

Yes, Richardson puts together some highlight plays, but don’t fall for it.

I encourage you to turn on the game film embedded in this article and judge for yourself.

Look at his full body of work, not just his highlights.

It’s alarming.

NFL Draft platforms need to stop the presses and turn on the game film and actually study Richardson

The writing is on the wall, Richardson is going to be one of the most over-hyped prospects headed into the 2023 NFL Draft.

I must have missed the memo because my grade is radically different than half of the NFL Draft Community who sees Richardson as a first-round pick.

CBS, Draft Wire, Rise N Draft, Pro Football Network, Walter Football, Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, The 33rd Team, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic and 247Sports all see him as an elite prospect.

No disrespect intended, but did they watch the same game film I did?

Let’s cut to the chase and put it out there about Richardson

🚩Richardson is an interception machine🚩

In 2021 he came into the LSU game, which was his first real game action at Florida.

He threw two interceptions in that game. He came back the following week against Georgia and threw two more picks.

Flash forward to 2022…

Richardson threw one right to a Utah defensive back, but he dropped it, and then he came back against Kentucky and threw two more interceptions.

It could have been a lot worse – – it could have been six picks as Richardson threw another four passes Kentucky defenders got their hands on, but couldn’t catch.

Richardson melted down like a snowman against Kentucky.

Why is Richardson so reckless with the football?

That is a great question that I will attempt to answer:

1. At times he throws some ill-advised passes under pressure.
2. At other times he throws some “what in the hell were you thinking” passes (see Kentucky game).

What is everyone falling in love with?

His athletic ability and his raw strong arm.

Everyone fell in love with his 45-yard touchdown run against Utah the first week of this season when he had nothing but open field in front of him.

They love the drama Richardson creates for himself when he is flushed out of the pocket and forced to run because he holds the ball too long in the pocket.

I’ll say this – – Richardson’s arm is legit – – but his downfield ball placement isn’t.

He can throw the ball so hard some of his passes are too hot to handle, that’s how strong his arm is.

However, his ball placement…

His ball placement is all over the road, and that will not win in the National Football League.

#15 Anthony Richardson 6-foot-4, 232 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Grade: Seventh-Round – Early Fall 2022 Report

First Round Mock Big Board: QB15

Projected by 48.7% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of September 14, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2021 game film reviewed: LSU (click to watch games viewed to form this evaluation)

2022 game film reviewed: Utah and Kentucky

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 38/64 (59.4%) 529 (8.3 avg.), 6 TD, 5 INT.

2022 stats (to date): 31/59 (52.5%) 311 (5.3 avg.), 0 TD, 2 INT.

NFL comparable: Anthony Wright

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Athletic dual-threat with a strong arm, average-looking football playing speed, ball placement and protection issues. Excellent ball handling and play-action skills. Inconsistent going through progressions, tends to hold the ball too long, and has noticeable hesitation before releasing. Looks like he needs to make sure of what he is looking at before throwing. Most consistent short. Guns it into the intermediate level with great velocity. Can switch it up and throw finesse touch passes. Throws some beauties up seams and on slants, but too inconsistent. Ball placement is erratic at other times (high, low, behind). Below average accuracy deep. Decent at avoiding taking sacks, but doesn’t always feel it. Can be forced into bad throwing decisions under pressure. Tough runner who takes what defenses give him on the ground. An athlete who will be a project at the NFL level.

What to watch for during the 2022 college football season:

1. Does he continue to throw a lot of interceptions?
2. Does he look hesitant before he throws?
3. How is his ball placement at the intermediate route level?
4. Has his deep game improved?

I’m not impressed.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.