Anthony Richardson entered the league looking like the kind of quarterback who could bend the sport to his will. At 6-foot-4, with a huge arm and rare running power, the Colts used the 2023 fourth overall pick on what looked like a high-end bet on upside.
That bet has not worked out so far. After three seasons, Richardson has completed 50.6% of his passes and produced 11 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 17 appearances.
Injuries have taken a real toll too, including a season-ending orbital fracture in 2025. Even with that bad luck in the mix, the Colts still have not seen enough steady quarterback play to feel comfortable turning the offense over to him.
The gap between talent and production has been the whole story. Richardson arrived with only 13 starts at Florida, which made him one of the most intriguing physical prospects in the class but also one of the least polished. Indianapolis drafted the ceiling and trusted coaching, repetition, and time to tighten everything else.
Instead, the passing numbers have moved in the wrong direction. His completion percentage dropped from 59.5% in four games as a rookie to 47.7% in 2024.
He can still flash the jaw-dropping throws and punish defenses as a runner, but the basics - timing, accuracy, consistency - have been much harder to bank on. The moment when he tapped out of a game in 2024 only added more questions about whether he was ready for the grind that comes with being an NFL starter, even if that one play should not be treated as the whole evaluation.
There is still a route back for Richardson, but it likely starts somewhere other than Indianapolis. In February, it was reported that the Colts and Richardson had agreed to explore a trade, though no deal is certain and the market does not appear nearly as strong as his draft slot once suggested.
If another team takes the swing, it will need more than hope. The right setup would simplify the early reads, lean on quick throws, use his legs in the right spots, and let his arm strength create big plays without forcing him to act like a finished product overnight. He needs snaps, stability and a coach who’s willing to build him up instead of expecting him to arrive ready-made.
At the same time, a fresh start cannot become a shield from the parts of the position he still has to master. Richardson still has to sharpen his footwork, improve his accuracy and speed up his processing.
A better system can help. It cannot do the job for him.
Indianapolis has already moved on with Daniel Jones, which leaves Richardson’s future with the Colts very much in doubt. He is still young enough to tempt a team into taking a low-cost shot, but the runway for a franchise quarterback is getting shorter by the day. Falling from top-five pick expectations to backup or reclamation status is not the same as being done, but it is a long way from where this was supposed to go.
Richardson’s case is a reminder that raw athletic gifts only matter if a team has the patience and structure to turn them into quarterback play. Maybe he finds that place and finally puts it together.
Maybe he becomes the cautionary tale. For now, the league has more reason to believe the second option.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardson Just Added To The Colts Biggest Uncertainty
The Colts were already dealing with one of the leagues more watchful quarterback situations, and Anthony Richardson Sr. has now added another layer of uncertainty off the field. The backup passer was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana, putting an unwelcome spotlight on a player whose role has already carried plenty of attention in Indianapolis.
Richardson briefly addressed the matter, calling it an ongoing legal issue and offering no regret when asked about it. The Colts said they are gathering information and will let the legal process play out, with any possible league discipline expected only after that is resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Kicking Nightmare Came Down To One Costly Breakdown
Spencer Shraders rough afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium left the Colts staring at a kicking problem they could not afford. The placekicker missed two field goals in Week 7, including a long try from 56 yards in the third quarter, and afterward he did not duck the frustration that came with it. Shrader said he felt responsible for the loss and pointed to his own process as the issue, a reminder that even one off day can swing a game when special teams become part of the story.
Luke Rhodes, meanwhile, made clear the Colts are not ready to give up on him. The long snapper backed his teammate after the game, offering confidence despite the missed kicks and the sudden spotlight that followed a breakdown in a phase the Colts usually count on for stability. For a team trying to keep its footing, the concern is not just what went wrong in Minnesota, but how quickly it can be fixed. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Star Suddenly Pulled Into Trade Chatter Around Vikings
The Vikings have been working the phones as the trade deadline approaches, looking for help on offense after injuries have thinned out their running back room and interior line. Aaron Jones has been battling through an MCL sprain and then picked up another knee issue, while guard Donovan Jackson is sidelined with a torn meniscus, leaving Minnesota in need of stability as it tries to patch together the right side of its offense.
From the Colts side, the name that has surfaced in the chatter is Jonathan Taylor, a reminder of how quickly deadline speculation can ripple beyond the teams actually involved. Minnesota has not been directly connected to him, but any conversation about available running backs tends to pull in a player of Taylors stature, which is enough to keep Indianapolis on alert as the market starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]