Following news that Daniel Jones earned the Colts starting quarterback gig, Anthony Richardson‘s camp is starting to question his future in Indy. While speaking with ESPN’s Stephen Holder, agent Deiric Jackson expressed disappointment at the decision and hinted that his client may be looking to play elsewhere.
[RELATED: Colts Name Daniel Jones Starting QB]
“Trust is a big factor and that is, at best, questionable right now,” Jackson told Holder. “Anthony came back and made the improvements in the areas he needed to improve. And by all accounts, he had a great camp.”
While the agent didn’t explicitly mention a trade request, he did question the credibility of the organization and head coach Shane Steichen. Jackson wondered if the Colts had already made their QB decision when they handed Jones a one-year, $14MM contract back in March.
The agent also cited the team’s handling of the former fourth-overall pick during the 2024 campaign. While Richardson missed six total games last season, he was clearly benched for a pair of contests, with Steichen calling out his quarterback’s lack of preparation. Richardson was quickly inserted back into the starting lineup, but it was clear the organization wasn’t fully convinced of the player’s standing as a franchise QB.
Jackson hasn’t been the only one observing Richardson’s offseason improvements, as coaches have also lauded the player’s development since last season. The organization has also continued to state that Richardson remains in the team’s future plans, regardless of the outcome of their QB battle.
For what it’s worth, Richardson continues to say the right things, with the quarterback saying there were no “hard feelings” regarding the decision.
“[Steichen] made a decision,” he told Holder. “That’s the decision we’ve got to live with, but no hard feelings, nothing personal. I’ve just got to keep growing. I just can’t let me not being a starter stop me from going and being the person, the player that I’m supposed to be.”
Richardson is a respectable 8-7 in 15 career starts, and he’s collected 635 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. On the flip side, he’s only completed 50.6 percent of his passes, and he’s tossed 11 touchdowns vs. 13 interceptions. Jones didn’t establish himself as a winning QB during his time with the Giants, so there’s a chance the Colts eventually pivot to Richardson in 2025. Still, that might not be enough to repair the apparent broken relationship between the two sides.
Business is business
We’ve seen enough – this guy is a nothing burger. They should use him as a backup until his contract expires and then let him walk.
Colts made a huge mistake drafting this guy who masquerade as a QB…..take me out I’m tired…..
So if he’s a nothing burger, what is Danny Dimes? A nothing taco?
Better than Richardson. Richardson cant read a playbook.
He’s a guy who spent part of last year under the coaching staff that turned Sam Darnold’s career around and made him a near MVP candidate.
I guarantee you that’s why Jones had so much interest in free agency. He’s always had the physical tools but was considered a guy who needed a lot of development.
Just like Geno Smith and Drew Lock.
If he can become an even halfway competent QB, he’ll be a hot commodity with those legs.
I’d say the feeling is mutual
Injury history and mediocre play from a former 4th overall pick heading into his 3rd season. Enough said.
You forgot to mention laziness. I’m too tired to go back in!!
Mediocre is being generous – – he’s been awful
He’s not exactly wrong. Just really late to the conversation happening in public for a while.
Kind of like fans trusted their QB not to get tired and ask to be taken out of a game. It’s a two-way street
Y’all should see some of the other quotes from his agent. Sounded like he was throwing a whole tantrum. Richardson himself was actually chill about it when interviewed.
Bad pick from the get-go. Was extremely inconsistent in college, poor on field decisions, and a classic example of drafting an athlete and not the player. Winning at the combine doesn’t translate field success.
Without a trade up for Stroud, Richardson was the right pick at 4. Levis failed too. You take the higher ceiling player and try again if he busts. Low ceiling Levis would leave the Colts chasing Lawrence and Stroud for the rest of their careers.
Why was he the right pick?
Folks get the idea that team building means taking a QB no matter what and it doesn’t. Players that could have made sense without drafting Richardson. Devon Witherspoon at CB, Paris Johnson Jr at OT, even Jalen Carter(though I’m not drafting a dude responsible for the death of two others).
Or trade down and accrue picks. Kancey, Christian Gonzalez, JSN, Addison were all available and make sense for them. A lot of other guys that could make the team now better could have been taken and would have made sense knowing the timetable on Richardson was like 3 years or so.
I don’t think he’s a lost cause. But he’s gotta stay late and do all the little things to improve his play because we know he can physically do the job. Which is why I think his agent is an idiot.
I don’t think it’s really fair to blame Carter for those deaths. They were all street racing. Everybody involved knows what they’re doing, and they’re stupid young college kids.
Also, I think Richardson was taken because they hired Steichen and wanted to run a similarly explosive QB running offense to the one the Eagles ran in 2022. If you remember, he did in fact do that his rookie year and was showing signs of being an impact player and genuine problem as a dual threat player.
But I watched him in college enough to know Richardson needed A LOT of development as a passer. That became way more obvious last year when he wasn’t able to take the league by surprise again.
He probably would’ve won Rookie of the Year in 2023 if he stayed healthy. That’s what’s crazy. It makes sense though when you have a guy who can impact the game to that extent with their legs. Stroud on the other hand just kept torching defenses through the air week after week until everybody took notice right around when Richardson went down.
So… He was named the backup because he’s not very good AND he’s hurt a lot AND there’s no guarantee he won’t ask out of a game for being tired, and now he doesn’t trust the team. Hello, Mr. Bust. The rest of your career has a ceiling of “backup QB.”
Chris Ballard is still employed by the organization. Just wild. Colts deserve this.
How do you blame Ballard for the actions of an impulsive, meddling owner who insisted on making all the headline grabbing decisions. It’s like blaming Jimmy Johnson for letting the Cowboys dynasty come apart.
it was Ballard who drafted a round 3 talent at 4th overall.
Jalen Milroe went in round 3. That is the highest you can take a QB who can’t pass. Ballard took one at the top of round 1. That is a fireable offense.
Sure. Who seems more likely to make that kind of decision? The painfully conservative Ballard? Or the desperate to return to past glory Jim Irsay?
I get that everyone around Indy wants to shield the Irsays from criticism, but zebras don’t change their stripes. Ballard was ordered to make the pick.
I think it’s acceptable to take one in the second round if he’s got that level of athletic upside.
I will say Milroe has had some impressive moments as a passer this preseason, for what it’s worth.
He should be worrying about his future in the NFL rather than his future in Indy because right now he hasn’t actually established himself as any kind of legit QB.
That is funny- everyone on this post is saying Daniel Jones is better. Jones is a joke and reminds me of Ryan Leaf…
That leads me to believe you weren’t around to see Ryan Leaf.
I was around I am not sure if you were around because Jones is just as bad.
Jones IS better but that’s not really saying much.
Business 101 for Richardson is to stay healthy long enough to prove himself to be reliable which he has not! Jones won’t last Richardson without question will get another shot.
The ‘being tired’, TD / INT ratio, small experience in college and mechanics are all things bantered and valid.
I remember an article that indicated his grasp of concepts, reading defenses and overall game preperation was less than acceptable. However not being enamored with the colts since Unitas I could be missing ARs improvements in year 3.
Is it too late for Richardson to have Jerry Maguire represent him?
The only thing Richardson should be yelling is SHOW ME THE FILM ROOM!!!
Talent in Richardson is beyond questionable
You mistakenly added the word “beyond” to that comment
Terrible draft pick, agent trying to blame others.
Robert De Niro subbing for Deiric Jackson…link to youtube.com
Trust in Richardson staying healthy beyond his 4th start is questionable.
Just saying, this is an agent who outside of Richardson negotiated Lagway’s NIL deal and then his next highest profile client is Siran Neal along with a few other roster bubble players and then some less heralded college players.
This comment stinks of inexperience. It’s not hard to have “Anthony is prepared to work hard and earn his starting spot back while staying game ready as the backup” locked and loaded should this happen like it did. Richardson doesn’t even have to be done in Indy, but his play needs improvement. It just does. On top of that, he reaggravated the injury to his shoulder and dislocated his pinkie…why would he start?
It sounds almost like they want out. And if they do, they’ve got to realize unless Indy gets a great offer, there is no reason to trade him away.
What team is making a great offer for him?