Anthony Richardson may be ready to chomp in the NFL, but which teams are chomping at the bit to land him?
The Florida Gator is the most intriguing passer of the 2023 NFL Draft cycle. His physical traits are second to none, but there are still plenty of questions about him.
Many people believe that because of his limited starting experience in college, Richardson will need time to develop behind an established starter in the NFL. That could remove plenty of suitors, though he's still a stone-cold lock for the first round.
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Not all NFL Draft prospects are perfect fits. Some landing spots would be safer than others for Richardson, while some are square pegs in round holes. Here's a breakdown of who's who:
Anthony Richardson best NFL Draft fits
Colts
Indianapolis is still looking for their its franchise passer after Andrew Luck retired — the four-year anniversary of that is coming up — and Richardson would make a lot of sense.
New head coach Shane Steichen came from Philadelphia, where he helped oversee the growth of Jalen Hurts from unknown NFL commodity to MVP-caliber talent. Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard seemed to make it clear that Richardson might not be what they're looking for, though it is smokescreen season, after all.
The Colts signed Gardner Minshew this offseason, giving them a veteran buffer while Richardson learns the ropes if that's the direction they want to go. Minshew has proven to be a capable starter in the NFL, but not an elite one, so he wouldn't represent too big of a hurdle for Richardson to leap.
Seahawks
If there's any NFL starter who can extol the virtues of hard work and patience, it's Geno Smith. That bodes well for anyone who may soon sit behind him.
The Seahawks may have signed Smith to a contract extension this offseason, but Seattle could get out of the deal after this season if Smith regresses or if they feel Richardson is ready. The Seahawks have to figure out their long-term option at quarterback, too, with the 32-year-old Smith likely not the answer beyond 2024.
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Commanders
Where there's a quarterback in the draft, then there's a Commanders draft selection that makes sense.
The Commanders don't pick until No. 16, so they'd to have to make a sizable move to jump up to near the top 10 — or higher — to take Richardson. But in a world where Richardson is available to them, then they might be the best landing spot for him.
With Eric Bieniemy making his way to the nation's capital as offensive coordinator, and should Washington want to invest serious draft capital in a quarterback, then why not take Richardson and hope Bieniemy can work some Mahomes magic with him?
Anthony Richardson worst NFL Draft fits
Texans
The Texans, sitting at No. 2 overall, not only will draft a quarterback but also likely start him immediately. Both Alabama's Bryce Young and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud are more pro-ready than Richardson, which makes the decision for GM Nick Caserio easy.
Richardson will need time to marinate on the bench and work through mechanical issues as well as the Xs and Os. Sticking him under center from Week 1 probably wouldn't be the smartest decision for an organization to make, and so that's probably not what the Texans, with a defensive-minded, first-year head coach in DeMeco Ryans, will do.
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Titans
The Titans are in a very strange spot as an organization. Trade rumors around Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry persist, the offensive line has lost three starters, and the front office faces a bigger hill to climb than some may realize to infuse the team with talent.
Tennessee is probably best served playing out the string with Tannehill and then hitting the reset button following the 2023 season. Sticking a rookie QB in a situation like the one the Titans face is a recipe for disaster, even though new GM Ran Carthon has plenty of runway to put a successful roster in place.