2023 NFL Draft Colts owner Jim Irsay says team wouldve taken Anthony Richardson first overall

While there seemed to be a consensus around the that Alabama's and Ohio State's , the quarterbacks who were selected with the 2023 first two picks by the and , were in fact the two best signal-callers available, the say otherwise. Team owner Jim Irsay maintains that the draft's third quarterback selected, Florida's (the Colts' pick at No. 4), was always going to be their guy."If we had the first pick in the draft, we'd probably take Anthony," Irsay said Saturday, per. "I always felt like Richardson was going to Lanny McDonald Jersey be the guy we went with, early on." Measuring at 6-4, 244 pounds while running a 4.43 40-yard dash and jumping a 40.5" vertical plus a 10'9" broad, Richardson was far and away the most physically overwhelming quarterback prospect in this year's cla s, far and away. Anthony Richardson's ranks among QBs at the 2023 Martin Kaut Jersey NFL Combine:Height: 6' 4 1/4" (1st) Weight: 244 (1st) 40-Yd: 4.43 (1st)Vertical: 40.5" (1st)Broad: 10'9" (1st) NFL Research (@NFLResearch) However, Irsay didn't have any declarative proclamations about Richardson immediately becoming the Colts' starter or if veteran free-agent signee quarterback would act as a mentor and early-season fill-in in 2023. The owner did emphasize the Ian Cole Jersey importance of those in-game reps for his new, shiny quarterback."You get better by playing," Irsay said. "I mean, practice and preseason games and watching in a quarterback room, that's great. But, man, I'll tell you, he'd get better by playing, and it's something that it is really important. Because, again, his development is so much of a key to the franchise's future. It is the critical key." New Colts head coach Shane Steichen, hired from the NFC Champion where was their offensive coordinator, has full belief in Richardson's potential after working with other strong-armed pa ser like the ' and 2022 NFL MVP runner-up ."Shane was convinced," Irsay said. "He said, 'I've seen his mechanics. I've seen him make pa ses. I know he can make him. I've seen enough to really feel he can develop into an outstanding pa ser, not just with his feet.' That went a long way with me."Chris Ballard, the Colts' general manager, made it crystal clear the franchise isn't putting any pre sure on Richardson for immediate results just Joe Colborne Men Jersey as they aren't guaranteeing him immediate playtime. "He's got to come in and earn his way like every player we bring in," Ballard said Thursday. "Let's not expect him to be Superman from day one. I think history has shown there's not many of them that are Adam Foote Kids Jersey Superman from day one. Some of them it takes two, three years for them to become a really good player. I think you all know well enough, we're excited, we're excited to get Anthony. Now we've got to go play. Now you've got to go prove it. Damn right I'm excited. Then you sober up and say, 'OK, now we've got to go play and make it work.'"