There were 32 receivers selected in this year’s NFL Draft—the most players at any position—but Richardson was not among them. He felt he had the production and traits to be chosen and was surprised when he wasn’t picked.

“I was definitely disappointed,” Richardson said. “I thought that I was a guy that had the skillset, had the film, had the athletic ability to be drafted. I thought that was going to happen for me. For whatever reason it didn’t. But God has a plan and it’s already written. I’m just so stoked to be able to be at a place like Chicago. This is such a historical place. It’s just the coolest thing ever.”

It’s no surprise that going undrafted put a sizeable chip on Richardson’s shoulder.

“Certainly that motivates me,” he said. “I feel like I was the best slot receiver in the country this past season. I guess it’s easy to overlook a guy that looks like me. I don’t necessarily pass the eye test with flying colors. But I think when you turn the tape on, it might surprise some people.

“What motivates me is just proving people wrong. I really get a lot of pleasure out of seeing the look on people’s faces when they were the ones saying I couldn’t do something and then I go and do it. But I don’t really need any external motivation. I just love proving myself right. I get real pleasure about showing up and working hard.”

Richardson has enjoyed showing up and working hard for coach Ben Johnson.

“Coach Johnson is just such a sharp dude,” Richardson said. “He’s a passionate guy. You can just tell he eats, sleeps and breathes football. He’s obsessed with football and that’s the type of guy you need leading your team. He’s extremely articulate in meetings about what he wants out of us. Whenever he gets up and presents the plays to us, he’s overcommunicating what he wants everybody to do. It’s really cool to see him do his thing. He’s a hell of a coach.”

While Richardson hopes to make the most of his opportunities on offense in training camp and the preseason, he knows that his key to securing a roster spot as a reserve receiver could depend on how he performs on special teams. He’s comfortable in that role, having been named honorable mention Big 12 special teams player of the year last season after tying for 11th in the nation with 252 punt return yards.

“I feel like I can play anywhere on special teams,” Richardson said. “If you need me to run down on kickoff and go hit somebody in the mouth, I’ll gladly do that. If you want me to return punts, return kicks, be on the front line, play gunner, whatever it is, I feel like I have the skillset and the toughness and the mentality to go make a play on teams.”