Anthony Richardson 'Clearly' Has 'Best Upside' Among QBs in 2023 NFL Draft, Exec Says

As the NFL Scouting Combine is set to begin this week, many are anticipating the opportunity to see former Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson showcase his skills, as it is widely believed that he has a bright future.

One NFL executive for a team that "likely won't be drafting a quarterback this year" told Peter King of NBC Sports that Richardson has "clearly the best upside, but you're gonna have to be patient."

Richardson doesn't have as much experience as other signal-callers in this year's draft class, as he played in just 24 games with 13 starts in his three years at Florida, leading the team to a 6-7 record as the starter. Still, he impressed as a junior by throwing for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 654 rushing yards and nine more scores.

Richardson's athleticism and dual-threat abilities make him an attractive player to draft, but he likely would be best served in a situation where he can sit behind a veteran to start his career. The youngster still has tools he needs to develop to be a successful NFL quarterback.

"If you're on an alien spaceship and you land and you only watch Richardson's Utah game, you think he's the best football player on the planet," Daniel Jeremiah told King, referring to Richardson's 17-of-24 performance with 106 yards on the ground and three rushing TDs in the upset of the Utes. "But the consistency is just not there. It's a roller-coaster ride that you go on. But there's a ton of talent in there."

With many quarterback-needy teams near the top of the draft, one of them might take the chance on Richardson in hopes that the risk pays off in the future.