MAY 17: Dodds noted (via Chappell) a meeting to “essentially clear the air” took place between Richardson and the team once it became obvious a trade would not be forthcoming. Richardson’s attention will now turn to his showings in spring practices over the near future while remaining on course for free agency next spring.
MAY 12: Anthony Richardson and the Colts have seemed destined for a split for almost a year. The first writing appeared on the wall when the team signed Daniel Jones to compete for the starting quarterback job; by midseason, it was covered.
Jones won the training camp competition and led Indianapolis to a 7-1 start, seemingly establishing himself as the Colts’ next franchise quarterback. Richardson, meanwhile, had been sidelined by a freak orbital fracture and was even the subject of some trade deadline chatter that another team could see him as a reclamation project. He requested a trade this offseason, and the club worked to oblige him, but “nothing materialized,” assistant general manager Ed Dodds said this week (via Mike Chappell of FOX59).
Richardson still has just 28 starts and 743 passing attempts in his college and pro careers, presenting the concerns about both inexperience and durability. Dodds reiterated that 24-year-old is “good to go,” but uncertainty about his eye injury was a factor in his lack of trade interest, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder. He is also owed $5.4MM in guaranteed compensation this year, and another team may not want to pick up that tab for a developmental project.
The Colts are not considering a release, Holder adds. They would still owe Richardson that money, and especially with Jones recovering from last year’s Achilles tear, it makes little sense for them to move on from their former No. 3 pick without any financial relief or trade compensation.
“He’s back in the fold right now,” head coach Shane Steichen said at Phase 2 of the team’s offseason program (via Chappell).
Wthout significant interest from other teams, Richardson may now be best served by staying in Indianapolis, where he can compete with Riley Leonard for the backup quarterback gig. Until Jones is back on the field, that job comes with first-team reps, though Steichen declined to elucidate any sense of a pecking order.
There are indications that the team is not completely out on Richardson’s talent and ability to contribute to the team. He had his best training camp in 2025, according to Holder, and though his eye injury kept him from returning to in-game action, he impressed as the scout team QB late in the season. In fact, Holder adds, Richardson would have taken over as the Colts’ starter had he been healthy when Jones went down.
Jones has a lengthy injury history of his own, too. Any setback in his current recovery could thrust Richardson back into a starting role this year. Theoretically, the Colts could get out of their contract with Jones next offseason, though that would require a remarkable turnaround from Richardson. More likely, he will be looking to contribute in any way possible this year to boost his stock before hitting free agency in 2027.
Might as well at this point. I doubt his value can go down any more. They’ve totally trashed it. The only hope is somehow he gets into some games and plays well enough to draw some interest at least. At least until that hefty 5th year option would kick in and then hopefully negotiate it down.
Yeah, the NFL tends to forget fast. Even just riding the bench with no drama could help Richardson. Eventually, some team is going to look at its options at some point, and remember that Richardson was a first round pick. That sort of thing can help teams talk themselves into interest where none may otherwise exist.
If Richardson does end up sticking it out in Indy until his eventual release, teams will definitely have interest. I don’t know whether there will be enough time for Richardson to build his value to entice a trade before then. One thing working in his favor is the fact that his team’s starter is also injury prone, so the door’s not completely shut on him getting some game action. Even if Leonard ends up beating him for the backup gig, it still helps if Leonard goes to start and Richardson is the number two. Better than being buried at third, if only slightly.
Hopefully if they remember he was a 1st round pick they should really remember that he never shouldve been a 1st round pick lol. One of the biggest reaches of all time
I don’t disagree, but that’s how they see it.
I could see him being coached up by Joe Brady
Of course the other way to look at it is that if Richardson plays this year it probably means things have gone horribly wrong.
“he impressed as the scout team QB late in the season”
This is what is called damning with faint praise.
Did the scout team identify him as a top QB prospect? If so, it’s more like CYA than praise.
Sure why not
First, he was a terrible draft pick…he wasn’t NFL ready…..mid to late 2nd rounder at best….he will be a journeyman qb at best in the NFL. Right now I don’t see him better than any 2nd string qb in the league
Chris Ballard is probably a collector of 8 track cassettes, slide rulers and rotary phones too 🙂
Who cares if they keep him or not. The trade demands from a below average QB are baffling. This guy isn’t even a career back up. You can’t win with a QB that only completes 50% of his passes folks
Malik Willis was able to change his narrative as a backup.
Hopefully, the same can happen for Anthony Richardson.
If he has decent hands, why not give him some reps as a slot receiver or TE? Ronald Curry carved out a nice career doing that. Of course, Curry had the advantage of being a hard worker …
Silly headline, because of course they can keep him, trade him, waive him, release him…many options here
Unless the Colts need a new towel collector in the clubhouse they have no need for Anthony Richardson. He’s never been even an average QB at any stop he’s made. Watching him take a decent Florida Gator team and single handidly drag them to the bottom of the S.E.C. was infuriating. And now he’s doing the same to the Colts. If he would show some genuine humility and listen to his coaches he might actually be a fair QB, but until he quits believing he’s the greatest thing in the NFL he’s going to continue pulling everyone around him into his vortex of mediocrity.
I liked AR15 coming out of college. But I thought he was a project. It was a huge splash pick by Indy at the time. I think he needs to go back closer to home in Florida and be a backup and wait until his time is called. Still talented but needs to develop some pocket awareness and accuracy before he can see the field.
I’m not sure Richardson has ever shown the field awareness required of a starting QB at SEC or NFL level. Got by on sheer size and athletic talent. It’s either start from scratch as a QB or become a half-back/tight-end hybrid.
Terrelle Pryor 2.0
I’m not holding out much hope for Richardson at this point, but hey, he’s only seven months older than Ty Simpson.
Think he’d be best off laying any ego in a storage unit, show up and do his utmost to absorb instructions that can improve all aspects of his ‘game’. Put focus and efforts where it can be beneficial to a long term nfl career.
His past shows some talent possibility that refinement and work might sharpen into usable and confident skills.
OR NOT
Richardson im sorry the kid can’t read defenses,he stares down receivers and doesn’t see the field well, most importantly got no touch on his passes. What is his comp.average like 48% won’t get it in nfl. MAYBE HE OTTA TRY TO BE A TE.