Anthony Richardson making statement early in Colts OTAs

The Colts selected Florida’s Anthony Richardson with the fourth pick of last month’s NFL Draft. And within weeks, the quarterback already has earned his way to first team.

Well, it’s first team with an asterisk. Richardson and Gardner Minshew are splitting reps with the first team offense during Indy’s OTAs. And to think, Richardson was considered a football project who oozed raw athleticism. However, he needed some time for his game to mature. At least that was the pre-draft scouting report.

Obviously, Anthony Richardson blew past that, given the reps he’s taking this week in the phase three practices of OTAs.

“We’ve been splitting them up,” said new head coach Shane Steichen. “Anthony’s getting some reps with the ones, Gardner’s getting reps with the ones, and that’s how we’re rolling right now.”

Steichen told reporters that he views this as all part of the Anthony Richardson evaluation. There’s the luxury of time given that training camp doesn’t start for a couple more months. Team drills are conducted at a slower pace. And no defender is going to get close to Richardson (or Minshew) before a coach or official blows a whistle.

“You got a guy that’s really talented that comes in and shoot, you want to see where he’s at,” Steichen told reporters. “So let’s get him going early in the process.”

Anthony Richardson, Bryce Young already running with 1st team

Quarterbacks went with picks one, two and four on April 28 to kick off the draft. Carolina selected Alabama’s Bryce Young while Houston picked Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. Like the Colts, the Panthers are allowing Young some time with the first team during OTAs. Stroud is second team in Houston.

The Colts locked in on Richardson after he put up fantastic measurables in all the speed and agility drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. You can teach a quarterback to read a defense and how to set his feet. But as they say, you can’t teach speed. Richardson ran a 4.43-second time in the 40-yard dash. And he posted a near 41-inch vertical. Keep in mind, Richardson is built like a rush end, given that he’s 6-foot-4, 244 pounds. NFL Network gave his athleticism a grade of 99, which was tops among all prospects, not just quarterbacks.

Richardson still needs to improve his throwing accuracy. He completed about 55 percent of his passes last season with the Gators. But reporters who attended Thursday’s session in Indy raved about some of his throws. So did his coach.

“I’ve been really pleased with where he’s at mentally,” Steichen said of Anthony Richardson. “He made some big plays today on the football field, made some great throws, great decisions. Really, some next-level stuff that I’ve seen over the last couple of days.”