The Indianapolis Colts knew all along that quarterback Anthony Richardson was their target in the 2023 NFL draft, and there are few better fits for a player throughout the entire class.
In fact, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com listed the pairing as one of the perfect player-team fits from the entire 2023 draft.
Richardson enters the league with just 13 collegiate starts to his name. He’s also a supreme athlete with exceptional arm talent — and he might have joined the perfect team to help him reach his superstar potential. Head coach Shane Steichen has a knack for helping young quarterbacks play at a high level, as evidenced by his past work with Justin Herbert (as Chargers offensive coordinator) and Jalen Hurts (as Eagles offensive coordinator). Steichen has shown the creative flexibility and adaptability to scheme around a young quarterback’s deficiencies and build game plans that match the QB1’s strengths as a playmaker. With Richardson’s dual-threat talents meshing well with the established stars on Indianapolis’ roster (running back Jonathan Taylor and receiver Michael Pittman), the Colts can lean into a dynamic, RPO (run-pass option) attack that forces opponents to defend every blade of grass, from sideline to sideline and end line to end line.
Among many, there are two reasons why Richardson’s profile fits so well with what Shane Steichen wants to do. The first is obvious with his elite physical tools as a runner. The second is Richardson’s ability to run a vertical passing attack.
Richardson is inexperienced in terms of playing time at the collegiate level. He opted to skip the final two years of his career at Florida in order to enter the draft so the Colts will be able to mold him how they want.
There certainly will be some ups and downs during the early going of his career, but the Colts were always the best fit for Richardson to reach his ceiling.
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