NFL Draft 2023: Colts Owner Irsay Explains Why Picking Anthony Richardson Was A Great Strategy

The 2023 NFL Draft’s first round is now in the past. Three quarterbacks were selected in the first four rounds, as many had predicted: Bryce Young of Alabama, C.J. Stroud of Ohio State, and Anthony Richardson of Florida. Colts Owner Irsay Explains Why Picking Anthony Richardson Was A Great Strategy.

NFL Draft 2023: Colts Owner Irsay Explains Why Picking Anthony Richardson Was A Great Strategy

In their approach to the quarterback position during this year’s NFL draft, the Indianapolis Colts were at a fork in the road.

The team, which had previously been headed by traditional pocket passers like Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck, took a fresh turn when the fourth overall choice went to Florida’s Anthony Richardson.

Jim Irsay, the owner of Indianapolis, offered an intriguing alternative scenario that may have happened if Richardson hadn’t been available at position four.


This is why the Colts were so excited to get him, according to owner Jim Irsay. Irsay desired a dynamic, mobile quarterback since the NFL was dominated by players like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts.

“This game is going more to the athletic quarterback,” Irsay said. “The days of (Tom) Brady and Peyton, I don’t know if they’re ever going to return.

“Mobility is reasonably essential. I always felt Richardson was going to be the guy we went with, as I learned more and more. He is a superhero. No quarterback has brought those skills in athletic testing.”

“We kind of felt like if we had the first pick in the draft, we’d probably take Anthony,” Irsay said. “That’s how much we liked him.”

The Colts’ general manager, Chris Ballard, made it quite clear that the team is not pressuring Richardson for quick results and that they are not promising him instant playing time.

“He’s got to come in and earn his way like every player we bring in,” Ballard said Thursday. “Let’s not expect him to be Superman from day one. I think history has shown there’s not many of them that are Superman from day one. Some of them it takes two, three years for them to become a really good player. I think you all know well enough, we’re excited, we’re excited to get Anthony. Now we’ve got to go play. Now you’ve got to go prove it. Damn right I’m excited. Then you sober up and say, ‘OK, now we’ve got to go play and make it work.'”

Richardson is dazzling with his right arm, but he also has lethal legs. Richardson was by far the most physically dominant quarterback prospect in this year’s class, weighing in at 6-4 and 244 pounds, while also completing the 40-yard sprint in 4.43 seconds and clearing a 10’9″ broad.

 

 

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