The Carolina Panthers went all in when they traded for the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft—parting with two first-rounders, two second-rounders and wide receiver DJ Moore. So, are they ready to gamble it for the jackpot?
Franchise great Steve Smith Sr. laid that bet out on Thursday, when University of Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson took the field for his pro day outing. The future Hall of Famer and current NFL Network analyst said that while Richardson could very well end up being the best player of the current class, he’s still a risky investment.
“No one wants to be as the person who passed on Tesla or Amazon,” he said. “Because now you have to look back and the question is gonna be when that owner says, ‘What guy told us not to draft him because of the floor?’ We know what the ceiling could be. But what is the floor?
“But the problem with that statement and the problem with all of that is—how long is it gonna take for him to develop into that Corvette? Into that beautiful, extravagant house that you’re expecting it to be? What happens if it takes five years?
“Is he a kid that you want him to play tomorrow? I don’t believe he’s ready to play tomorrow not because he can’t. It’s because he lacks the experience. And with lack of experience, it becomes a roller coaster. You don’t wanna allow a young kid to lose his confidence.”
Great summation by @SteveSmithSr89 here of Anthony Richardson as a prospect. “This is an investment and no one wants to be known as the person who passed on Tesla or Amazon.” But he also adds there’s the consideration of time and cost that it could possibly take to develop… pic.twitter.com/t81lRdhDzS
— Sheena Quick (@Sheena_Marie3) March 30, 2023
Richardson started just 13 games throughout his three-year collegiate career. That, of course, pales in comparison to the experience of fellow passing prospects Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud—both of whom have started in two full seasons while getting their teams into the College Football Playoff.
What Richardson has over the two is that ceiling Smith Sr. alluded to. The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder turned in, perhaps, the greatest combine performance for any quarterback—testing as an athletic marvel for the position.
But, will that get the Panthers feeling lucky come April 27?