Scouting Notes
- QB Type = Hybrid (see Key below for QB-Type reference)
- A true creator on the ground with great downfield vision as a scrambler.
- Extremely poised and smooth as an operator of the offense.
- Showed good pre-snap diagnosis and command of an offense.
- Accuracy numbers are low, but those numbers are greatly deflated by tons of dropped passes and strategic throw-aways.
- Plenty of bad decisions and questionable throws to last a career jam-packed into one season.
Short Summary
There are few Quarterbacks I have scouted that I have fallen in love with like Anthony Richardson. The fact that he is so unanimously disrespected only makes me mark my territory even more.
Many will point to the awful accuracy numbers, but let’s ignore that just for a second, and examine the rest of his numbers. Beyond that, he is great at nearly every other level of the game from a statistical perspective. His high-end plays are unreal, bordering the “Mahomesian”. He is a great improviser with focus and a great throwing ability. He is also efficient and electric on the ground.
Now, if we dive deeper into the accuracy numbers, that number should easily be higher, likely in the low-60s, which is only slightly lower than fellow top-prospect Will Levis. The amount of perfectly placed passes that were dropped was maddening, and his strategic throw-aways shouldn’t hurt his stock.
Sure, there were way too many head-scratching throws. Plenty of sailing passes or ducks. With all that, however, there was an equal amount (if not more) of beautiful passes with elite touch and placement.
It’s easy to get scared by the inconsistency, but Patrick Mahomes was also slept on due to his inconsistency. What I look for 2 things – High-end ability, and the consistency of it. If a Quarterback doesn’t have a high enough high-end or didn’t do it consistently enough, that’s a concern. Anthony Richardson checks both those boxes and many more. Therefore, I’m willing to overlook the lowlights.
What’s even more enticing about Anthony Richardson, is his experience. Not the fact that he has plenty of it, but the fact that he was able to show the great plays he did with only one year of starting under his belt.
Anthony Richardson is tabbed as a project by the general media. While I believe some time to learn could help him greatly, he could step in and be a quality starter right away. A few years down the line, he could even be one of the top Quarterbacks in the NFL.
Scouting Card Key
- Age refers to the age of the player come draft night, rounded to the nearest half-age.
- Percentage numbers in the Player Info and Combine Stats sections – This refers to the percentile that number belongs to among all players at his position, going back nearly a decade.
- QB Type – The QB Archetype (one of Surgeon, Runner, and Hybrid), as detailed in my QB Scouting Guide.
- GP – Games Played
- INTs – Interceptions
- AY/A – Air Yards per attempt. I always choose this stat over Y/A, since Yards per attempt can be inflated by great yards after catch plays, which are mostly unrelated to QB play.
- BTT and BTT% – Big Time Throw and Big Time Throw Rate. The rate is how many of those you completed relative to how many passes you’ve completed in total.
- TWP and TWP% – Turnover Worthy Plays. These are plays deemed by PFF Scouts and Graders to be plays that should have been a turnover, but by circumstance (a dropped Interception for example) it didn’t end up as one. (The percentile of this stat is of course the inverse, the higher the rate, the lower the percentile.)
- Adj. Comp. % – Adjusted Completion percentage. This assumes all passes that should have been caught were caught, therefore not penalizing a Quarterback too much for dropped passes.
- TTT – Time to Throw. This stat doesn’t say much about the QB play, but it gives you an insight into the situation in which a player was playing. Certain players get cushioned and never hit in college, then falter after a few NFL hits.
- P2S% – Pressure to Sack rate. This stat measures what percent of a player’s pressured plays ended in a sack. This stat helps quantify pocket mobility and pocket presence. (The percentile of this stat is of course the inverse, the higher the rate, the lower the percentile.)
- Clutch – The ability to perform in high-pressure situation, not necessarily end-of-game.
- OTN – Outside the Numbers. This is the player’s ability to throw accurately to the edges of the football field.
Credit
Advanced stats – pff.com
Scouting card template / idea – Jordan Pun @Texans_Thoughts
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