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Predicting Anthony Richardson’s floor in the 2023 NFL Draft

By Logan Lazarczyk

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators throws a pass during the first half of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 12: Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators throws a pass during the first half of a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 12, 2022 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /
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It was reported on Monday that the Titans and Raiders are exploring trading up to the third overall pick. The Cardinals currently possess the third overall pick and could play host to a bidding war.

Whenever a team jumps the draft board, it is likely that the team is making a move for a quarterback. Not just any quarterback, but one that can become a franchise-altering signal caller.

It is a foregone conclusion that CJ Stroud and Bryce Young will be the first two picks in the upcoming draft. The third overall pick is when we could have a major shakeup in the draft. Arizona is entering next season with the mindset that it will be a setback year, as Kyler Murray is expected to miss the majority of next season. In addition, the Cardinals have so many needs to fill that trading back is probably the smartest decision for the organization.

If Tennessee and Las Vegas are indeed the two teams bidding for the third overall pick, the likely player in discussion is Anthony Richardson.

The Florida product may have the highest ceiling of any player in the draft. Anthony Richardson also provides the most risk but by trading up in the draft into the top five, you are going for high risk, high reward.

Richardson possesses the raw abilities to become a franchise quarterback, but he will need time to mold and polish his game. That is why the fit makes a lot of sense for teams like the Raiders and Titans.

Some people may be wondering why Will Levis is being left out of the equation. Levis has elite arm strength, but his ceiling is not as high as the three other sought-after quarterbacks. The former Kentucky quarterback also has some risk attached to him, and he is not worth trading up for.

Can Levis be a solid quarterback? Of course. But I do not believe he can elevate an organization, and it may take him time to develop as well.

Now, it is time to discuss why the Titans and Raiders are a great fit for Richardson, if they decide to trade up in the draft, as reported.

For one, both teams possess veteran quarterbacks in Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Tannehill, who are both serviceable quarterbacks. Each of these veteran signal callers is clearly not the future of their respective team, but they are the perfect bridge quarterback that a young player like Ricardson can sit behind and learn from.

Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million deal with the Raiders this offseason, while Tannehill is under contract through 2025, but is probably entering his final season as a Titan, barring what Tennessee decides to do in the draft.

While Tannehill is getting older and more expensive, Garoppolo has struggled to stay healthy for the bulk of his career, only registering one fully healthy season. That could pose problems if the Raiders are forced to throw Richardson in early in the season, but if Garoppolo can at least stay healthy for 10-12 games, that is not the end of the world.

Another reason why Richardson is a perfect choice for either of these teams is the fact that both Las Vegas and Tennessee are in divisions with transcendent quarterback talent. The Raiders have to deal with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, while the Titans have to compete against Trevor Lawrence twice a year and will more than likely welcome either Young or Stroud in the division.

These two teams need a superstar-caliber quarterback that can go toe-to-toe with the likes of Mahomes, Herbert, and Lawrence in their respective division. Not to mention, the AFC is loaded with quarterback talent, and if you are a team in the conference, you cannot afford to fall too far behind in the quarterback position.

The 6’4, 232-pound quarterback has the potential of being a top-five quarterback in the league, and that would do wonders for teams like the Titans and Raiders. These teams are falling behind the pecking order in terms of quarterback talent, and if Las Vegas wants a fighter’s chance to knock off the Chiefs in the AFC West, Richardson is the clear answer. Likewise for Tennessee. Lawrence won a division title in his second season as a starter and his first season with competent coaching.

If one of these teams ends up trading up with Arizona, I am confident that Anthony Richardson will be the player selected. It is still a possibility that other teams emerge in the conversation, but regardless, if a quarterback-needy team trades up to three, my bet is Richardson as the quarterback selected.

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