We're beginning to see why the NFL scouting community is so high on Florida quarterback prospect Anthony Richardson.

Richardson, who met with the Patriots this week, ran an unofficial 4.44-second 40-yard dash Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine with QB records in the vertical leap (40.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 9 inches) at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds.

Richardson is considered a first-round prospect despite struggling at times as a passer in 2022. It seems unlikely at this point that he would fall to New England at No. 14 overall in the draft.

There’s also the fact that the Patriots just selected Mac Jones 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones was the best rookie quarterback in his draft class but struggled in Year 2. The Patriots will need to make a decision on whether or not to pick up Jones’ fifth-year contract option next offseason, so this is somewhat of a make-or-break year for the young QB.

It would be very surprising if the Patriots spent another first-round pick on a quarterback, but if they believe that Richardson can be a game-breaker and that Jones cannot, then it would still be a smart move to try to upgrade the position. They’d also be resetting the offseason in which they’ll need to upgrade their quarterback from a rookie contract to a pricy extension.

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport recently reported that Alabama QB Bryce Young is expected to be the top QB drafted despite measuring in at just 5-foot-10, 204 pounds at the combine. Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Kentucky's Will Levis are also in the mix to be drafted near the top of the first round.

Among teams picking before New England, the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and New York Jets could all take QBs.

Richardson has been compared to another former Florida quarterback, Cam Newton, who spent the 2020 season as New England’s starter. Newton, at 6-foot-5, 248 pounds, ran a 4.60-second 40-yard dash with a 35-inch vertical leap, 10-feet, 6-inch broad jump, 4.18-second short shuttle and 6.92-second 3-cone drill at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine.

Richardson went 176-of-327 for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season in his only full year as a starter with the Gators. He also rushed for 654 yards on 103 carries with nine touchdowns.

Newton won the Heisman Trophy in his lone season as a college starter, completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,854 yards with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2010. He rushed for 1,473 yards on 264 carries with 20 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown.

Featured image via Matt Pendleton / USA TODAY NETWORK