The Anthony Richardson Sr. situation in Indianapolis keeps circling back to the same uneasy question: how long does this last?
Richardson asked the Colts for a trade in February, and the team agreed to the request. But no offer that made sense ever came together, so he stayed put and worked his way back into the offseason program. For now, he remains part of the quarterback picture in Indianapolis, even if that picture looks a lot different than it did when he was once viewed as the future.
The Colts have made their financial choice at the position. Daniel Jones is the guy they committed to this offseason, signing him to a two-year, $88 million deal that can climb to $100 million. That move has pushed Richardson into a different lane, and he’s now competing for the QB2 job with Riley Leonard while the team waits to see whether anything changes.
Jones’ recovery from an Achilles injury had a lot to do with why Richardson stayed on the roster through the offseason, according to a prediction from Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton. As Moton wrote, “The Colts are now deeply committed to Daniel Jones financially, and Richardson likely remained on the roster through the heart of the offseason because Jones was still recovering from a torn Achilles.”
Moton also pointed to several possible destinations if Richardson does get moved. “Potential landing spots include the Cardinals. Especially if Jacoby Brissett's contract dispute boils over-the Jets, once they realize Geno Smith is not the guy, or the Steelers, Cowboys, or Panthers as a premium stash-away option for 2027.”
Richardson’s run as the expected starter is already behind him. He lost the QB1 job to Jones last training camp, then his own season ended with an eye injury several weeks before Jones went down in Week 14. That left Richardson without the chance to prove himself again or build any momentum heading into the offseason.
Still, he’s only 24, and that age is part of why the trade talk hasn’t gone away. A former top-five pick with that kind of talent always has a market somewhere, especially if he can stay healthy and put together solid practice and preseason tape over the Colts’ three upcoming joint practices and preseason games.
For his part, Richardson isn’t spending much time talking about a possible exit. When asked this offseason if he still wanted to be traded, he said, “I’m not really focused on that right now," Richardson told reporters this offseason when asked if he still wanted to be traded.
"I’m here right now. I’m just trying to make sure I’m staying healthy and keeping everything up there in the mind sharp.”
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