Richardson

Oh please no, that would be a huge mistake.

@"pattersaur" said:

@"Bullazin" said: saw a mock with him #1 yesterday Mcshay i think 

https://www.gatorsports.com/story/football/2023/02/17/anthony-richardson-draft-nfl-experts-predictions-florida-gators-quarterback-uf/69912654007/ This list of about 20 "experts" has him going anywhere from 3-29. Carolina is the most popular destination, either at #9 or via a trade up. Carolina makes a lot of sense. Defense that's good enough, no QB, a new HC whose rep says he's good at molding QBs, and an owner who probably regrets passing on Justin Fields.

Looking at Josh Allen's college stats, he was a career 56.2% passer whose bad throwing mechanics got fixed AFTER he went to the NFL.  

Josh Allen's college stat line:
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/pi/shareit/PpBTT

Looking at Richardson's highlight reel, you can see similarities to Allen with his running, but he's got uncanny speed.  Especially as he outruns DBs...or just runs through them. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAY9VMOe0I

I realize that highlight reels are exactly that...they never show the lowlights :-)

But it does make one think that having that dual threat (that Cousins does not possess, even though I am a supporter of Cousins), makes me think "what if" he was available at #23, and we parked him for one or two years behind Cousins and coach up his mechanics a bit.  I say pull the trigger.

I could easily be a believer.

@"Montana Tom" said: Looking at Josh Allen's college stats, he was a career 56.2% passer whose bad throwing mechanics got fixed AFTER he went to the NFL.  

Josh Allen's college stat line:
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/pi/shareit/PpBTT

Looking at Richardson's highlight reel, you can see similarities to Allen with his running, but he's got uncanny speed.  Especially as he outruns DBs...or just runs through them. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAY9VMOe0I

I realize that highlight reels are exactly that...they never show the lowlights :-)

But it does make one think that having that dual threat (that Cousins does not possess, even though I am a supporter of Cousins), makes me think "what if" he was available at #23, and we parked him for one or two years behind Cousins and coach up his mechanics a bit.  I say pull the trigger.

I could easily be a believer.

At 23 sure.  But how much would you give up to move up to say 10 or 12 of he were to drop?

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"Montana Tom" said: Looking at Josh Allen's college stats, he was a career 56.2% passer whose bad throwing mechanics got fixed AFTER he went to the NFL.  

Josh Allen's college stat line:
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/pi/shareit/PpBTT

Looking at Richardson's highlight reel, you can see similarities to Allen with his running, but he's got uncanny speed.  Especially as he outruns DBs...or just runs through them. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAY9VMOe0I

I realize that highlight reels are exactly that...they never show the lowlights :-)

But it does make one think that having that dual threat (that Cousins does not possess, even though I am a supporter of Cousins), makes me think "what if" he was available at #23, and we parked him for one or two years behind Cousins and coach up his mechanics a bit.  I say pull the trigger.

I could easily be a believer.

At 23 sure.  But how much would you give up to move up to say 10 or 12 of he were to drop?

Now the guy I would consider moving up for:  Hendon Hooker from Tennessee.  Same prototypical size as Richardson, but more of a finished product (and less risk).  69.2% completion avg.  27 TDs vs 2 picks.  Not as fast or shifty as Richardson on the ground, but definitely fast and a powerful runner if he has to.  Richardson currently has to rely on his feet.  Honestly, I think Hooker has a higher ceiling than Bryce Young, even though Young will go in the first two picks.  And in the highly unlikely situation that he could be available and we draft him, I'd still say let him sit for a year behind Cousins.  To me, he projects better in the NFL than Justin Herbert.  
I would consider trading Cook and our 23 to someone much higher (10-12) to pick up Hooker, and open up some cap space.

@"Montana Tom" said: Now the guy I would consider moving up for:  Hendon Hooker from Tennessee.  Same prototypical size as Richardson, but more of a finished product (and less risk).  69.2% completion avg.  27 TDs vs 2 picks.  Not as fast or shifty as Richardson on the ground, but definitely fast and a powerful runner if he has to.  Richardson currently has to rely on his feet.  Honestly, I think Hooker has a higher ceiling than Bryce Young, even though Young will go in the first two picks.  And in the highly unlikely situation that he could be available and we draft him, I'd still say let him sit for a year behind Cousins.  To me, he projects better in the NFL than Justin Herbert.   I would consider trading Cook and our 23 to someone much higher (10-12) to pick up Hooker, and open up some cap space.

I dont see cook having much trade value.  Teams can wait until he is cut and likely work a better deal on their own,  otherwise there will be plenty of other decent RBs in FA and the draft.

Josh Allen went at 7.  To get that high (and I suspect Richardson will go that high after he blows up the combine running around in shorts)  from 23 the Vikings would have to give up #23, their '24 1st, and their '24 2nd.  At least.  Not happening.  Even Justin Fields cost the Bears the next years' 1st, and that was just to move from 20 to 11.

The only way we make a big move for a QB is if we trade Kirk first as he's the only source of enough draft capital to make it feasible without "going full Rams" and leaving us nearly pickless for multiple years. With no 2nd this year, #23 plus our 3rd would get us to maybe #18. 

Richardson is intriguing just on his physical profile alone...  He's basically a faster version of Josh Allen when he came out.  But Josh Allen had 25 starts compared to 13 for Richardson.

I just don't know if Richardson is going to go as high as Josh Allen did.  Less film to evaluate, he needs a lot of work/development as a passer (just like Josh Allen), and he's probably got the lowest floor of any QB in this draft.

Lamar Jackson isn't as big but was a better passer and had the same rushing ability to go with a lot more starts.  He went 32.  Jalen Hurts brings that same dual threat ability, started for Alabama and Oklahoma and went in the 2nd round...  Malik Willis went in the 3rd or 4th round.  And these are just guys from the last couple drafts.  Josh Allen was an outlier.

I think it's going to depend on how he interviews, but right now I think Young, Stroud, and Levis will all go before he does.  If that happens, I don't see him going top 20 let alone in the top 7 picks.  

@"Geoff Nichols" said: I've watched a lot of Richardson and think he is worth taking anywhere outside of the top-5. Sure, there is a lot of inconsistency to his game but if you look at arm talent, size, and athletic ability he does what a lot of NFL QBs can't do. That is worth something. Accuracy is the common concern but he has some Josh Allen to that. Allen struggled with accuracy because of his base and his inability to layer the ball (E.G threw everything on a line). Richardson, same problem. He lives on his arm too much and will sacrifice resetting. That doesn't mean he will improve, but there is at least a chance. On the field he processes' surprisingly quickly and some of his flashes moving in the pocket are insane. 

There is a lot of bad/unknown. But if you just take draft range and look at say Kenny Pickett a year ago and Richardson, the floors are very different. You're talking serviceable low-end starter (Pickett) vs straight-up unplayable (Richardson). But speaking upside Pickett is a good top 15ish QB. Richardson if he hits his ceiling easily is a top 10 QB with the potential to go higher. Albeit I don't see much of a middle ground. 

Maybe anywhere outside the first 2 rounds. 13 starts as a college QB is barely a season of experience. His sophomore year he had a chance to take over and had a breakout game followed by injuries. Maybe more eye popping than his high incompletion percentage was his TD/INT ratio. 24-15. That's not just because of his base or throwing on a line. That shows a lack of awareness and ability to read a defense. That's breathtakingly bad. 

Really interested to see how the draft process plays out for this kid.

The league and fans seem to be in love with runners who throw once in a while.  But the stars in this league are mostly throwers who run once in a while. 

Guys like Richardson who aren't accurate in college generally stay that way.  Josh Allen is an outlier -- because Brian Daboll apparently is a miracle worker.  He made Josh Allen accurate, and he's in the process of making Daniel Jones wealthy... crazy.

@"comet52" said: The league and fans seem to be in love with runners who throw once in a while.  But the stars in this league are mostly throwers who run once in a while. 

Guys like Richardson who aren't accurate in college generally stay that way.  Josh Allen is an outlier -- because Brian Daboll apparently is a miracle worker.  He made Josh Allen accurate, and he's in the process of making Daniel Jones wealthy... crazy.

If the Vikings dont go with an RPO QB next? I will turn in my fan card..

@"comet52" said: The league and fans seem to be in love with runners who throw once in a while.  But the stars in this league are mostly throwers who run once in a while. 

Guys like Richardson who aren't accurate in college generally stay that way.  Josh Allen is an outlier -- because Brian Daboll apparently is a miracle worker.  He made Josh Allen accurate, and he's in the process of making Daniel Jones wealthy... crazy.

Thing with Richardson is he does show he can throw well when his upper and lower body are synced up.  He just doesn't do it all the time and his accuracy suffers from it.

He's like Josh Allen in that way.  Allen used to throw with one speed and that was HARD.  He also made a lot of throws with sloppy footwork.

The interview process will be huge with Richardson.  Might mean the difference between being a first rounder and going on Day 2. 

Some players get picked for tape, others for traits. Richardson obviously falls in the latter group. Danielle Hunter notably had very little production at the college level and has been a great player for us. He was drafted in the third I believe, but unfortunately with the QB position you don't have the luxury of waiting. I agree with other posters: It'll be very interesting to see when Richardson goes and where he lands. I for one would not be upset if he landed here.