The final fourth of the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback tour will be taking place later this week. But the praise for the subject of the trip’s last leg has already begun.
Before heading out to Gainesville for University of Florida star Anthony Richardson, head coach Frank Reich spoke of the passing prospect from Tuesday’s installment of the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix. And he said there’s a lot to like, even despite what many believe to be a concerning hang-up.
“He’s an exciting player,” Reich said. “Even before the combine, watching his tape, there are plays and throws all over the tape that scream ‘top pick,’ top of the draft pick. And that’s a credit to him. That’s a credit to him. I think he has upper body mechanics that are really solid. Obviously, his completion percentage is lower than you want at this level. But I don’t get too discouraged with things like that.”
Richardson, who started 13 games for the Gators in 2022, completed just 53.8 percent of his pass attempts. Those throws translated into some more underwhelming stats—as he finished up his final college campaign with 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions through the air.
But, as Reich notes, the stats may not hold too much weight. Those things can tend to go overlooked when you’re 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, have off-the-charts athleticism and can rip a hole in the space-time continuum with the pigskin.
The question is—are the Panthers prepared to not only take Richardson atop the 2023 NFL draft, but develop his perceived rawness as well? We may find a bit more out on Thursday.
