Anthony Richardson Won’t Get Drafted By The Bucs

Don’t fear, Bucs followers.

Tampa Bay gained’t choose Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson with its first-round choose.

Richardson, who is among the most polarizing prospects on this 12 months’s draft amongst scouts – and Bucs followers – had a proper assembly with Tampa Bay this week on the NFL Scouting Mix. However after crushing it in interviews with a number of NFL groups and the media, Richardson dazzled within the on-field exercises the place his great athleticism was on show.

After a record-setting Mix efficiency Richardson might be drafted effectively earlier than the Bucs, who solely have one quarterback on the roster in Kyle Trask, choose at No. 19 within the first spherical.

“I’ve [met with the Bucs],” Richardson stated. “It went fairly effectively – simply attending to know them and speaking about my life and speaking about ball. It went fairly effectively.”

The Bucs additionally met with Kentucky’s Will Levis, who additionally shined in Indianapolis, and figures to be drafted within the Prime 15. If there was an opportunity the Bucs had of a quarterback falling to them within the first spherical it might have been the uncooked Richardson. However after his athletic showcase in Indy he’s a lock to be drafted within the Prime 15 – if not earlier – too.

In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, Richardson’s Mix numbers, which included a 4.44 within the 40-yard sprint at 6-foot-4, 238 kilos, put him within the 99th percentile of all QBs in Mix historical past.

The priority within the scouting group is Richardson’s accuracy. He accomplished simply 53 % of his passes in his one 12 months as a starter at Florida.

Sitting behind Trask in 2020 and Emory Jones in 2021, Richardson lastly received his alternative to begin final 12 months and accomplished 176-of-327 passes for two,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Richardson additionally ran for 654 yards and 9 touchdowns whereas averaging 6.3 yards per carry throughout his junior season.

“[Some say] I’m a undertaking, so I assume groups know I’ve room to go,” Richardson stated. “They see sparks in me, and I see it as effectively. I don’t have to speak about expertise with them as a result of they see my tape. They know I’ve been taking part in ball for some time. I believe I’m prepared and I do know I’m prepared.”

Whereas he’s been labeled a undertaking, it’s honest to level out that Richardson didn’t get a lot correct teaching throughout Dan Mullen’s time at Florida. The Gators standout may be very younger at 20 years previous and has great upside because of his robust arm, NFL-sized body and athleticism. With correct teaching on the subsequent degree, Richardson may enhance his accuracy, which was a bit shaky throughout a few of his on-field throws on the Mix.

“Lots of people say I’m immature as a result of I’m solely 20 years previous, however I needed to develop up early,” Richardson stated. “I needed to increase my youthful brother as a result of my mother was working two to 3 jobs per 12 months. Lots of people don’t know my scenario and don’t know my story. That’s why I’m right here – to inform my story and let folks know who am I.

“I’m simply excited as a result of I really feel like I’m rising in myself and I’m simply having enjoyable with the method. Watching completely different movie – watching Joe Burrow, watching Justin Herbert, watching Josh Allen final 12 months with my coaches. I really feel like I’m capable of do these issues that these guys are capable of do. They’re nice on their groups, so I’m able to get on my workforce, get in my system and turn into nice similar to these guys.”

Anthony Richardson May Wind Up As A Bucs Rival

So the place will Anthony Richardson go after a implausible efficiency on the Mix?

Professional Soccer Community has Richardson now going first total to Houston, which might commerce up one spot to get him, after his Mix efficiency. The Colts, who choose at No. 4, are additionally a really quarterback-needy workforce. And the Seahawks, who choose fifth total, may be enthusiastic about drafting Richardson and letting him sit and develop behind Geno Smith for a 12 months.

How dedicated to Jared Goff are the Lions, who choose sixth total? CBS Sports activities has Richardson going to Las Vegas at No. 7 in its new post-Mix mock draft.

Don’t be shocked if one in every of Tampa Bay’s division rivals – both Atlanta, which picks eighth, or Carolina, which picks ninth – drafts Richardson. The Falcons are slated to begin Desmond Ridder, final 12 months’s third-round choose, however Richardson’s worth as a runner is a greater match for Arthur Smith’s run-first offense.

The Panthers additionally want a quarterback. Sam Darnold is slated to be a free agent, and won’t return. Matt Corral was a Day 3 draft choose final 12 months, who missed his rookie season because of harm.

Each the Falcons and Panthers have thrived with dual-threat quarterbacks previously. Michael Vick took Atlanta by storm from 2001-08, and made three Professional Bowls throughout that span. Cam Newton was a power in Carolina from 2011-19, making three Professional Bowls and profitable the NFL MVP in 2015 whereas taking the Panthers to the Tremendous Bowl.

Is Anthony Richardson The Subsequent Cam Newton?

Anthony Richardson grew up idolizing Newton as a younger child, and later grew to become a Lamar Jackson fan.

“Rising up it was at all times Cam Newton for me,” Richardson stated. “However then I received to highschool and I seeing how dynamic Lamar was, I attempted to implement each of these guys in my life. I began calling myself ‘Cam Jackson’ in eleventh grade – simply making an attempt to make large performs.”

Previous to the Mix, NFL Community’s Daniel Jeremiah had the Lions deciding on Richardson at No. 18 – one spot earlier than the Bucs choose at No. 19. Now it appears sure that Richardson gained’t even make it that far. His uncooked athleticism and his drive to be nice will put him out of Tampa Bay’s attain.

“I need to be a legend – I need to be like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady,” Richardson stated. “I need to be one of many greats. I might be one of many greats as a result of I’m keen to work that onerous and get to that time. … I really feel like I’m going to be one of many best within the subsequent few years.”

Anthony Richardson Raves About Kyle Trask

As an alternative of getting the possibility of drafting Anthony Richardson, the Bucs must accept growing Kyle Trask, who has buried on the depth chart behind Tom Brady and veteran quarterback Blaine Gabbert since being Tampa Bay’s second-round choose in 2021. Richardson spoke glowingly about Trask on the Mix, and instructed the Bucs are in good arms together with his former teammate.

“Kyle is a legend,” Richardson stated. “He’s a Florida legend. Simply watching him and sitting behind him, he taught me how vital it’s to attend your flip and the way vital it’s to grind. That man, he knew the whole lot concerning the offense. He knew the blocking schemes, the receiver routes, and his units.

“At one time limit, he was calling performs for himself. The Bucs can positively anticipate that from him once more as a result of he’s a man that’s nice mentally and he has a ravishing arm. I attempt to implement that in myself. He’s a fantastic man they usually’re going to get that.”

Even when Richardson had been to someway slide to the Bucs at No. 19, the workforce appears dedicated to seeing what Trask can do that 12 months after spending the final two seasons growing him.

“We’re very enthusiastic about Kyle,” Bucs common supervisor Jason Licht stated. “We’re very enthusiastic about him getting the chance to be the starter – we’d be very comfy with that. [We’re] excited – I’ve used that phrase already however I actually am – for him to get an opportunity to be with the starters in offseason, starters in coaching camp, starters in preseason, which he’s by no means carried out.

“He was a profitable quarterback within the SEC – I imply, wildly profitable. We took him within the second spherical for a cause – we didn’t take him within the second spherical simply to be a third-string quarterback. Now, it has but to be seen what he seems to be, however we’re assured that it’s going to be superb.”