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Anthony Richardson is one of the most polarizing prospects ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
He is one of the most athletic quarterbacks ever, as he demonstrated at the NFL combine, but his lack of experience on the field and questionable arm talent make him a risky pick. Draft experts are apparently split on his outlook as a professional quarterback prospect.
In a recent article by The Athletic, Mike Sando anonymously polled NFL team executives and general managers to gage the top ten picks in the upcoming draft. The consensus apparently projects Anthony Richardson to be selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the fifth overall pick.
Here's Sando's analysis of the Seahawks' fifth overall pick:
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"This is a fascinating spot to be for the Seahawks. They are slotted early enough to land or possibly just miss landing a franchise quarterback or elite defensive lineman, depending on how the top of the draft plays out."
He came to this conclusion based on the feedback he directly received from NFL team executives. Here's what one executive for a rival NFC West team had to say:
“Seattle might take a quarterback... Probably Anthony Richardson — big, athletic guy who can run.”
Here's what an anonymous general manager had to add:
“I like Anthony Richardson better than [Will] Levis, and I don’t think I’m the only GM who feels this way.”
Another general manager gave his take:
“I could see (Seahawks GM) John (Schneider) liking Richardson a lot. He hasn’t started much and didn’t really carry his team but is a freak talent.”
The general consensus seems to believe that the upside of Richardson's athelticism will outweigh his relative inexperience when the 2023 NFL draft arrives. He put together a jaw-dropping performance at the 2023 NFL combine, including setting quarterback records in the broad jump and vertical jump.
Richardson also ran a scorching 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash, just 0.10 seconds shy of Michael Vick's all-time record. He also has a massive frame to back it up at 6'4"tall and 244 pounds. His incredible showing at the NFL combine could be why the Seahawks may target him with the fifth overall pick.
Are the Seahawks a likely landing spot for Anthony Richardson in the 2023 NFL draft?
The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2022 NFL season with a new quarterback for the first time in a decade after trading away Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. They fared better than almost anyone expected, thanks to Geno Smith having the best season of his entire career and helping them make the NFL playoffs.
The catch is that Smith is currently set to become a free agent in the 2023 offseason. It's unclear if the Seahawks are willing to lock him into a long-term contract.
This opens up the possibility of selecting a quarterback with their fifth overall pick, which they received from the Broncos in the Wilson trade. Anthony Richardson could potentially be their long-term solution in a favorable system under head coach Pete Carroll.
