2023-05-06 07:00:00
The Indianapolis Colts picked Anthony Richardson for the fourth pick in this year’s NFL draft. The fear of losing the quarterback talent to another team probably dominated the decision.
In a documentary about Richardson that the Colts uploaded to their YouTube channel, their general manager, Chris Ballard, spoke about the reason they picked the play caller so early in the draft.
“I didn’t want to look up and see him become a superstar somewhere else,” Ballard explained, adding in no uncertain terms, “If he becomes a superstar, he becomes a superstar for the Colts.”
Indianapolis had just the one first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, which the franchise used for Richardson. After that, the Colts didn’t come back until they were 44th.
With Will Levis, a QB who was traded just as high before the draft was only taken off the board in round two. So could Richardson have been free on the second day? The Colts obviously didn’t want to rely on that.
“I would rather take the risk that he might fail than pass him on and see him become a star somewhere else. We take a man not only for what he can do today, but for what he will become tomorrow can,” Ballard clarified on “NBC Sports”.
NFL team praised for signing Anthony Richardson
Incidentally, shortly after the NFL draft, Indianapolis received recognition from several quarters for Anthony Richardson’s pick. For example, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll claimed that the signal caller “is quite possibly the best athlete ever picked at that position.”
A defensive coordinator who faced Richardson in college also congratulated the Colts on their acquisition. “He’s a huge talent and if they can get him to improve accuracy and decision making then he’ll turn out to be incredible.”
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