What should the Colts do with Anthony Richardson?

(AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

As the Colts prepared for the NFL Draft, it seemed all but certain they might take a swing at quarterback, bringing in Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Joe Fagnano (UConn), Behren Morton (Texas Tech), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), and Cole Payton (North Dakota State) for both top-30 visits and virtual meetings. The volume of names alone signaled clear intent: Indianapolis was doing its homework on the position. Whether the intent was clear about simply building out depth options, or not, the Colts were not entirely settled under center. And as those meetings unfolded, another storyline continued to develop in parallel, one that ultimately carried even greater weight than any prospect evaluation. 

On February 26, 2026, quarterback Anthony Richardson officially requested a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. The former fourth overall pick has had no shortage of bad luck throughout his young career, starting only a handful of games over the past couple of seasons due to a string of setbacks. What once looked like the beginning of a franchise defining era has instead turned into a frustrating cycle of injuries and interrupted development. 

Frustration is one of the many reasons the Colts made the call to decline Richardsons’ 5^th year option. Officially making it so he becomes a free agent after this upcoming season. 

Richardson’s timeline tells the story. He suffered a season ending AC joint injury during his rookie season in 2023, halting what had been a promising introduction to the league. In 2024, a hip pointer injury once again sidelined him, and later that same season, he was benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco after the uninspiring tap out incident. After working his way back into the starting role, Richardson’s momentum was cut short yet again by back spasms that ended his season prematurely. 

More recently, Richardson entered 2025 as the backup to Daniel Jones, a move that already hinted at a shift in the organization’s confidence. Unfortunately, even in a reduced role, the injury bug followed him. In a freak pregame incident while stretching before a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, Richardson fractured his orbital bone, which inevitably became another season-ending injury. That doesn’t even account for a fractured pinky he suffered earlier in the preseason. At this point, the injuries are no longer isolated incidents; they form a pattern that’s impossible to ignore. 

These setbacks reinforce the durability concerns that surrounded Richardson coming out of college. Early on, many believed his injuries stemmed from his aggressive play style and a lack of self-preservation. But now, it appears to be something deeper, an unfortunate combination of physical wear, bad luck, and perhaps a body that hasn’t been able to withstand the demands of the NFL. Regardless of the cause, the result has been the same: stalled growth and unrealized potential. 

Still, despite everything, I believe Richardson has the tools to develop into a quarterback capable of starting a full season. The flashes have always been there, the arm strength, the athleticism, the ability to create plays that few others can. But the key word remains “full.” Availability is just as important as ability, and that’s where the uncertainty lies. If Richardson is ever going to put it all together, it may need to happen somewhere else. At this point, it feels unlikely that his long-term future includes Indianapolis. However, that doesn’t mean he lacks value. In the right situation, he could still be a high-upside backup with the potential to develop further. 

After Richardson and the Colts mutually agreed to explore a trade, speculation quickly followed. Analysts, fans, and insiders began connecting dots, proposing potential landing spots and hypothetical deals. Yet, despite the noise, nothing concrete materialized. General manager Chris Ballard addressed the situation directly, stating in a press conference that “nothing has materialized.” That comment speaks volumes not just about the market for Richardson, but also about how other teams currently view his situation. It feels like that whenever there are legitimate rumors of talks between the Colts and another team, it heats up only for it to cool right back down a mere 24 hours later. 

Now, in the post-draft window, the Colts find themselves in an interesting position. They did not select a quarterback, leaving their depth chart unchanged: second-year quarterback Riley Leonard, 100 million dollar starter Daniel Jones, and Richardson. On the surface, it’s a decently stable group. Beneath that surface, however, lies a great deal of uncertainty. 

Jones is still recovering from an ACL injury, which immediately raises questions about his availability for Week 1. If he isn’t ready, who steps in? The public consensus leans toward Leonard, especially after he showed flashes of promise in a Week 18 matchup against the Houston Texans. Ballard himself has praised Leonard’s confidence, noting that he isn’t afraid of the spotlight. That kind of endorsement carries weight, particularly for a young quarterback trying to establish himself. 

Yet, there remains a portion of the fanbase and perhaps even within the organization that still believes in Richardson’s upside. It’s easy to understand why. When Richardson is at his best, he brings a dynamic element that can change games. His ceiling remains higher than most, even if his floor has proven to be frustratingly inconsistent. 

As the Colts inch closer to training camp, the most practical scenario may be the simplest one: keep Richardson. If no trade materializes, he provides valuable insurance behind Jones and Leonard. Given Jones’s injury history and Leonard’s inexperience, having a player like Richardson in the room offers a level of security that few teams can afford to overlook. Additionally, with Richardson set to become a free agent after the season, this could serve as a final evaluation period for both player and team. 

That said, it still feels likely that a trade could still transpire. Around the league, quarterback depth is always in demand. Injuries, underperformance, and uncertainty create opportunities, and Richardson fits the mold of a player worth taking a chance on. He has also expressed a willingness to sit behind a more established veteran, which only broadens the pool of potential suitors. At this stage, the situation feels less about “if” and more about “when” - when a team decides the upside outweighs the risk. 

If Richardson is to remain with the Colts for the 2026 season, a direct and honest conversation will be essential. That discussion would need to involve Richardson, Ballard, and head coach Shane Steichen, with all parties aligning on expectations and goals. One possible approach would be to feature Richardson in the preseason, giving him an opportunity to showcase his abilities to other teams while also allowing the Colts to reassess his value internally. It’s a strategy that keeps all options open, retaining him as a backup or revisiting trade discussions with fresh evaluation. 

Looking at the Colts’ offseason decisions, there are subtle indications that the organization hasn’t completely closed the door on Richardson. They did not bring in another quarterback to replace him, which suggests at least some level of confidence remains. That confidence could manifest as a competition between Leonard and Richardson for the backup role behind Jones, a battle that could ultimately determine the trajectory of both players’ seasons. 

Of course, Jones still holds the edge in terms of consistency and trust. While his tenure in New York was far from perfect, he represents stability, something the Colts have lacked at the position in recent years. And in the NFL, stability often wins out over potential, especially for a team trying to stay competitive. 

Ultimately, the Colts’ quarterback situation remains one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the 2026 season. While the team addressed several needs during the offseason, this question lingers above all others: what happens next with Anthony Richardson? Will he remain in Indianapolis, carving out a role as a backup or injury replacement? Or will another team take a chance on his untapped potential? 

Because the reality is this, when Richardson is consistent, he looks like a franchise quarterback. The throws are sharp, the decisions are confident, and the athleticism is undeniable. But when he’s inconsistent, the opposite is true. You’re left watching, trying to make sense of a misread or an errant throw, wondering what he saw in that moment. 

That duality is what makes this situation so difficult to resolve and so fascinating to follow. 

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