The Dallas Cowboys may have a quarterback answer sitting right in front of them, even if it doesn’t look like one at first glance.
Anthony Richardson is the kind of swing Dallas has been willing to take before. He’s big, he’s got the arm, and he can move.
That profile fits what the Cowboys seem to like in a backup behind Dak Prescott. Right now, though, there isn’t a proven No. 2 in place, and Richardson would bring more starting experience than Joe Milton.
Sam Howell is also on the roster, but his path looks different now. He started every game for the Washington Commanders in 2023, yet since then he has already been with four other teams. At this point, he looks like the sort of quarterback who bounces around the league without becoming a regular fixture on the field again.
Richardson’s situation in Indianapolis makes the possibility even more interesting. The Colts no longer appear to need him, with the quarterback potentially sliding to QB3 to open the 2026 season. He has asked for a trade, but nothing has happened yet, which suggests other teams may not be rushing in either.
Dallas could be one of the few clubs willing to bet on the tools. The Cowboys have shown a preference for bigger quarterbacks with strong arms, shaky accuracy and running ability - at least when Prescott is taken out of the equation. What they have not always prioritized is whether those raw traits actually turn into dependable play.
That’s where Richardson and Milton line up. Both have similar styles, and both have struggled with quick decision-making. That issue has followed Richardson since college, and the Colts haven’t seen enough progress to believe it’s changing anytime soon.
Even so, a move to Dallas would make some sense. If the Cowboys brought Richardson in during training camp, they’d get a full season to watch him in practice and decide whether he’s worth keeping around beyond that. For a team looking for a backup plan, that’s a worthwhile look.
The Colts, meanwhile, should not expect a big return. Richardson’s fifth-year option for 2027 was not picked up, so he’s set to hit free agency next offseason. With Daniel Jones ahead of him and Riley Leonard also in the picture, Richardson may not have much of a path to playing time in Indianapolis unless injuries open the door.
That lack of future certainty lowers the trade value. Any team that wants him would be buying into the idea that he can fit its culture and scheme, not paying for a proven answer. A conditional fourth-round pick could be the best Indianapolis can get.
If Dallas were to offer that, especially three days after Colts training camp begins, it would be a deal worth making for Chris Ballard. The Cowboys would only be on the hook for Richardson’s $1.1 million in 2026, and the Colts would finally get something back for a quarterback they no longer seem to need.
In Other News...
Colts Just Set The Stage For A Nostalgic 2026 At Lucas Oil
The Colts are already giving fans a reason to circle Lucas Oil Stadium for 2026, unveiling a home slate built around familiar touchpoints, special causes and a few nods to the franchises past. The lineup includes the home opener against the Ravens, a Rivalry Uniform Game against the Texans, White Out, Salute to Service, Kicking The Stigma, My Cause My Cleats, Indiana Nights and the regular-season finale against the Jaguars.
For a team that has leaned into presentation as much as tradition, the schedule feels designed to keep the building tied to both its history and its identity. One of the biggest moments on that calendar will come with a Ring of Honor celebration for Adam Vinatieri at Lucas Oil Stadium, while other dates should give the Colts a chance to turn game days into something closer to an event, even before the football takes center stage. [Read more 🡒]
Another Colts Quarterback Twist Could Put This Backup In Play
The Colts quarterback room is still taking shape for 2026, and the expectation around the league is that Indianapolis will carry three passers. Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard appear positioned to be part of that mix, which would leave the final spot as the one most worth watching as the roster comes together.
Easton Stick is one name that fits the profile, especially with his prior link to Shane Steichen from their time together in Los Angeles. If the Colts do end up with the room they have in mind, Stick would be looking at a depth role behind Jones and Leonard, but the path to even getting that chance may depend on how the rest of the quarterback situation settles in the coming weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face A Roster Squeeze At Tight End Again
Training camp is about to put the Colts back in a familiar roster math problem at tight end. Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox and Drew Ogletree look like the safest names in the room, while the rest of the group has to fight for whatever is left once the front office starts trimming toward the final 53.
Will Mallory appears to have the inside track on the fourth spot, but he is not treated as a lock, which keeps the competition open heading into camp. The bigger wrinkle is whether Indianapolis even carries four tight ends at all, since going lighter there would free up room for help elsewhere on the roster. [Read more 🡒]