Anthony Richardson throws during his field drills at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images).
The NFL draft will always have an unfathomable amount of variables. General Managers, scrambling to find gold, are constantly working through each prospect to find the next NFL superstar. This year, the biggest variable of them all is Florida Gators’ quarterback, Anthony Richardson. With the most immense upside seen in years, Richardson is a sure-fire projection to land in the first 20 picks. Holding two picks within that range, Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions, cannot miss out on the star QB, even with a pro bowler in Jared Goff remaining on the roster in 2023.
Is Anthony Richardson Really the Right Pick for the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft?
The dual-threat quarterback is a raw prospect with a sky-high ceiling, but many in Detroit are avidly against bringing him into the Lions organization. That resistance from the public is easy to understand, as Detroits’ starting quarterback, Jared Goff, was one of the best in football, towards the top of many league rankings including passing yards (sixth) and passing touchdowns (fifth). Throwing a career low, seven interceptions, and having a passer rating between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, Goff was simply amazing.
Jared Goff is a good quarterback, some even will stretch him to great, and with his success in Detroit and somewhat previously in LA it is hard to argue. You can win a ton with Jared Goff, including back-to-back NFC West titles and an NFC Championship as he did with the Rams.
With Detroit winning eight of their last 10 games with Goff at the helm, just missing out on a playoff appearance, the quarterback position doesn’t seem to be a priority need for the Lions. In fact, defensively Detroit was a disaster, needing their offense to average over 35 points per game in order to win nine games this season. If the Detroit Lions even managed to put together a league-average defense, they would have achieved much more than that.
Winning a ton in the regular season isn’t the goal of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell though. They have promised the city of Detroit a long-term championship contender as their football team and they intend on delivering that product. Of course, that is easier said than done. Though, that does start with bringing in an elite quarterback to run the offense. As much as Jared Goff contributed to the Detroit Lions’ success, and as great as he was in 2023, he isn’t on the same level as Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, or Joe Burrow. The team wouldn’t be able to get over that hill with Goff running the show.
The one glaring issue with Jared Goff is the lack of a high ceiling. The Lions need a quarterback who can get to that elite level and be a star. The NFL Draft process allows the team to address that and the Lions are in a prime position to do so. In the 2023 NFL Draft class, Anthony Richardson does.
Arguably the most intriguing prospect in the NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson lines up during his time at Florida. (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times).
During the NFL Combine broadcasts, the lead NFL Network draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah said, “But when you look at the landscape of the NFL right now and you look at the high-, high-end quarterback play, this gives you an opportunity to take a shot on one of those guys who could be that. (Richardson) is not at that level right now, but ceiling-wise, with him and Jared Goff, his ceiling is immensely higher.”
With Anthony Richardson, the potential is unrestricted, you don’t have the same ceiling that Jared Goff has. As much as Detroit Lions’ fans appreciate their quarterback, most can admit they need a star. At the NFL Draft combine, it appeared as if the Lions’ front office agreed too. Meeting with the quarterback for a one-on-one interview, the Lions have shown and expressed interest in a quarterback and in Richardson.
“He’s (Goff) bought us time here. We believe we can win with Jared Goff. And in the meantime, we also know he’s not going to be here for the next 10 years. It’s not like Jared Goff is a rookie. So certainly our eyes are on potentially a quarterback,” said Detroit Lions’ Head Coach Dan Campbell when interviewed at the NFL Draft combine.
When in the market for a star quarterback, Anthony Richardson fits that description to a tee. Standing at six-foot-four, 232 pounds, Richardson is a giant, towering over the other quarterbacks of the class. Not just that, but he arguably has the strongest arm too.
It isn’t just his arm that makes him pop as a prospect, but what he can do with his legs. Rushing for 6.9 yards per carry, 1,116 yards, and 12 touchdowns, Anthony Richardson is a machine in every aspect of the game. Richardson will tell you himself, “I’m able to do everything on the field. Run over people, jump over people, run past people, throw the ball pretty well. So, just trying it all together.”
That looks to be the one downside though, putting it all together. With only one season as a starter under his belt, Anthony Richardson was inconsistent. Against Tennesee, he was untouchable, throwing for 453 yards and running for two touchdowns. Against Utah he dominated too, completing 70% of his passes and rushing for 106 yards on the ground with three touchdowns. Yet he also had four games where he completed just half of his passes and threw nine interceptions on 327 attempts.
Anthony Richardson himself is the first to admit this though, saying, “My completion percentage, some people say it’s not great. I don’t think it’s great either. But it’s just growing as a quarterback. Not every year is going to be your best year. I definitely learned a lot from last season.” He isn’t afraid to admit his shortcomings, nor list his accomplishments. He has that star quality about him.
If his arm, legs, and IQ continue to develop, the league will never be able to stop him. Not lacking the work ethic to improve, Richardson said, “I want to be a legend. I want to be like Patrick Mahomes. I want to be like Tom Brady. I want to be one of the greats. I will be one of the greats because I’m willing to work that hard to get to that point. So to answer your question, I feel like I’m going to be one of the greats in the next few years.”
The matter of fact is, not a single person can project a player to turn out to that level. A great field workout and a 4.43 40-yard dash time will help, but nothing is set in stone. Whether Richardson believes it or not, it remains to be seen. Without a doubt, Richardson is the highest boom-or-bust pick in the NFL Draft. He is the definition of a lottery ticket pick.
Luckily, Detroit can increase their odds on this gamble. Coming off a strong 2023 season with a pro bowl QB at the helm of a top-five offense, they don’t need to throw Richardson to the wolves. Using the “bridge QB” system to allow the young QB time to develop behind a valuable starter will help a ton in maximizing Richardson’s readiness. Working with the same process the Chiefs used for Alex Smith to Patrick Mahomes and the Packers used for Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers, Richardson could develop very well behind Goff.
With Jared Goff set for an extension that could be valued at around $45 million a year, it seems like the perfect time to find the bridge in Detroit. With Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell liking that approach to the quarterback system too, it doesn’t seem to be that big of a stretch.
If the Detroit Lions pull the trigger on Anthony Richardson come NFL Draft night, don’t be surprised, and don’t be alarmed. Richardson will be waiting in the wings and as he said, “Just ready to show how good of a quarterback I’m willing to be.”
