The Colts may not be in a rush to move on from Anthony Richardson Sr. In fact, they might not be moving on at all.
Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds said Sunday, via Stephen Holder of ESPN, that the team could keep Richardson on the roster for the 2026 season, which is the final year of his guaranteed rookie contract.
“I think you take care of your own team first,” Dodds said. “We want to have three [quarterbacks] that can play.
So, if [Richardson] is one of them, he’s going to be here. . . . Look at last year.
You never know.”
That comment comes after the Colts failed to find a trade partner for the fourth-year quarterback. It also fits with how last season played out.
Starter Daniel Jones went down with a torn Achilles tendon, and Richardson was unavailable because of an orbital bone fracture he suffered in a freak locker-room accident involving an exercise band. Rather than hand the season to rookie Riley Leonard, the Colts brought Philip Rivers out of more than four seasons of retirement.
Richardson, the No. 4 pick in 2023, has already collected a training-camp roster bonus of $4.24 million. He is also set to make a guaranteed base salary of $1.145 million in 2026.
For a quarterback, that’s a bargain. And if the Colts need depth, or more than that, Richardson gives them a cheap option with a clear path to matter. He’ll also be playing with free agency looming in March, which gives him plenty of incentive if he does get another shot.
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With Daniel Jones installed as the starter, the Colts have quietly settled into a quarterback order that puts Anthony Richardson Sr. in the backup role he never expected to occupy for long. Richardson was a first-round pick in 2023, but his uneven start to his career has left Indianapolis weighing not just his development, but his value as an asset if the team decides to move in a different direction.
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