Anthony Richardson sends message to doubters ahead of NFL Draft

Former Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson has addressed detractors and doubters in a piece shared by The Players' Tribune two weeks before the NFL Draft gets underway. 

"And, yeah, I may not pay attention to all the noise, but I do hear the critics," a somewhat defiant Richardson wrote. "I know the things people are picking apart. People talk about whether I can be accurate. They say I don’t have touch. They say I can’t throw short. They say a lot of things. All I gotta say is: Watch how hard I work." 

Last month, Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban seemed to take a shot at Richardson while defending Alabama signal-caller Bryce Young when Saban questioned going all-in on a "6-4, 225-pound guy that can throw it like a bazooka" but "can’t make the choices and decisions, he can’t distribute the ball, he can’t throw it accurately." 

Richardson completed just 53.8% of his passes during the 2022 season but shot up draft boards with an impressive showing at the combine. He measured 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and posted position bests in the vertical and broad jumps before he dazzled onlookers with his arm strength.

"In my mind, I can do anything with the football in my hand — but I know that no one will ever work harder than me to improve," Richardson continued in his letter. "Whether that’s my footwork, accuracy, mechanics, learning defenses, you name it. You can always grow, and that’s what I’m focused on. I’m going to come in and be tireless. I’m going to put it all on the line. My family sacrificed too much for me to not give everything to this game." 

In a mock draft shared on Tuesday, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. predicted that the Tennessee Titans will trade up and grab Richardson with the third-overall pick on April 27. Four of six CBS Sports analysts are currently forecasting that Richardson will be a top-four choice.