2023 NFL Draft: One QB tipped to have ‘Cam Newton starter kit’
Cam Newton, coming out of the University of Auburn, was one of the most talented quarterback prospects in some time. He showed his versatility and mystified defenses with his incredible arm and legs. The Heisman Trophy winner could do it all, which is why he went number one overall in the 2010 NFL draft to the Carolina Panthers.
It appears that in the 2023 draft, there could be another like him.
Anthony Richardson is a redshirt sophomore who played for the Florida Gators. Many experts are comparing him to Newton and one took it a step further. According to NFL draft expert Eric Edholm, Anthony Richardson possesses the "Cam Newton starter kit." Here's what Edholm wrote in his mock draft:
"The Panthers certainly would need to have a starting-caliber veteran QB on the roster in order to make this pick, but Richardson has all the traits to be a Cam Newton starter kit to develop gradually."
Per Edholm, the Florida Gators star is projected to go to the Panthers as Newton did 13 years ago. Like Richardson, Newton did spend time with the Gators, albeit for two forgettable seasons.
In two campaigns with the Gators, the former Panthers star threw for just 54 yards, going six of 12. He also rushed for 113 yards and four touchdowns with Florida.
Richardson had a slightly better experience in his time at Gainesville. In the 2022 college football season, Richardson was a catalyst for the Gators' offense. That season, he threw for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine touchdowns in 12 games. The young star also rushed for 654 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Gators' redshirt sophomore is drawing comparisons to Cam Newton and looks like a star in the making. Looking deeper, Richardson possesses one trait similar to the 2015 NFL MVP that simply cannot be taught.
Key trait shared by Anthony Richardson and Cam Newton
As a quarterback, the body will take some shots, and having a massive body frame could be pivotal to longevity. Anthony Richardson is a six-foot-four, 232-pound signal-caller who, like Newton, can do it all on the football field. Richardson has a similar body frame to the NFL All-Pro quarterback, who's six-foot-five and 245 pounds.
Given their similar size, there's one trait that noticeably separates the two quarterbacks. Richardson had a 53.8 completion percentage in his final season with the Gators. In comparison, Newton had a 66.1 completion percentage in his final season with the Auburn Tigers.
The 2023 NFL draft is months away and Richardson will have his Pro Day to remedy this issue. One thing is for sure: if Richardson can be half of what Cam Newton was in the NFL, he will be a star in no time.
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