The Jets keep showing up as a possible landing spot for Indianapolis castoffs, and Anthony Richardson could be the next name in that lane.
Richardson has not pulled back his request to be traded, and the money only makes a move easier to justify. Starting in August, his contract becomes more manageable for another team, and a new club would only be on the hook for $1.1 million in 2026.
That kind of setup makes a deal worth exploring for everyone involved. If Richardson is going to move on, he may need the same sort of fresh start that helped former Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell. Mitchell spent only one-half of a season with the Jets, but on a per-game basis, he was more productive there than he was in Indianapolis.
Richardson’s case is different, but the same basic question hangs over him: can he be more somewhere else than he was in Indy? He has obvious raw athleticism, but the Colts never got enough out of it. He has been lost in that system, and a change of scenery might be the only way to see whether there’s a better version of him waiting to come out.
Chris Ballard has said the Colts are not going to give him away. Still, with Daniel Jones in place as the starter and Richardson sitting no better than QB2, it’s hard to ignore the value of getting something back before he reaches free agency next offseason. Any draft return is better than holding a player who has asked out and may not be part of the plan.
New York would at least make sense as a landing spot. The Jets do not seem to have a long-term answer at quarterback, even after trading for Geno Smith, who is already in his late 30s. Cade Klubnik was selected in the fourth round this year, but there’s no guarantee he develops into a QB1.
Maybe Richardson never becomes that either. Maybe he would even fit well with the feisty Smith, which could help him along. But the Colts have already gone through three seasons of him when healthy enough to play, and so far in 2026 training camp, his accuracy still has not improved.
If Indianapolis can turn him into any draft value at all, that would be a clean exit. A 2027 Day 3 pick might not sound like much, but it could end up being better than what Richardson has given the Colts, or ever will.
In Other News...
Daniel Jones Just Changed The Feel Of The Colts Quarterback Battle
Weather pushed the Colts inside for their fourth camp practice, and the change of scenery did little to slow Daniel Jones. With Shane Steichen away for personal reasons, several veterans back on the field after resting or dealing with illness, Jones took a noticeable step forward in the red zone period and kept himself in the center of a quarterback competition that already has been worth tracking.
The details of the work matter because Indianapolis is still sorting out how the depth chart looks with Anthony Richardson Sr. and rookie Riley Leonard also getting reps. Jones timing and command stood out enough to alter the feel of the battle, while Leonard was more active in the rotation and Richardson got his turns as well, leaving the Colts with more to study once the full offense is back together. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Is Putting Colts On The Spot Again
Jonathan Taylor has been back in the Colts good graces for a while now, and the latest contract conversation feels a lot different from the last one. After the holdout that led to his three-year, $42 million extension, Taylor has continued to show up as the centerpiece of the offense, which is exactly why every word around his future carries extra weight in Indianapolis.
What makes this round of talks notable is the tone. Taylor has taken a cooperative approach and made it clear he wants to stay with the Colts long-term, a stance that stands in contrast to some younger running backs around the league who are pushing harder for new deals. For the Colts, the challenge is less about wondering whether Taylor wants to be part of the plan and more about whether the front office can keep one of its most important players content for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]