The Vikings could find Anthony Richardson suddenly sitting in the kind of trade range that makes sense only if the price is right.
With Chris Ballard gone in Indianapolis, the Colts have become a name to watch as Minnesota looks ahead to the unsettled future of its quarterback room. Kyler Murray is on a one-year deal, and the Vikings could use a young passer who already has starter experience and still carries some upside.
Richardson’s situation took another turn earlier this month when court records showed he was arrested on a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge after a traffic stop in Carmel, IN, on Oct. 12. He had already fallen down the Colts’ depth chart after Daniel Jones arrived, and this latest issue could push him even farther out of Indianapolis’ plans.
That matters because Minnesota is one of the places where the cannabis issue would not carry the same weight it would in Indiana. For the Vikings, that could mean Richardson comes cheaper in a trade than he otherwise would.
The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft has not started since Week 15 of the 2024 season. Since then, he has played just 14 snaps for the Colts and does not appear to be on a path back to the starting job anytime soon.
Richardson’s production has been uneven. As a passer, he has completed 50.6% of his throws with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, while taking 21 sacks for a 144-yard loss.
But the athletic upside is real. He has rushed for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns on 115 carries, and in 2024 he ranked among the NFL’s best quarterbacks in rushing production despite playing only 11 games: 45.4 rushing yards per game, sixth in the league; six rushing touchdowns, tied for third; and 5.8 yards per carry, ninth.
Since the Colts declined the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, Richardson is set to become an unrestricted free agent. If Indianapolis does not want him back, Minnesota should at least have interest in what a reset could unlock.
Kevin O’Connell would have to take him on as a project, but that is part of the appeal. Richardson still has the profile of a quarterback worth developing, and the Vikings could use that kind of talent in the room as they sort through their next move at the position, whether that comes through trade, free agency or the 2027 NFL Draft.
If Minnesota really believes in the upside, the opportunity may be now. A Day 2 or 3 pick in next year’s draft could be enough to get the Colts talking with interim GM Ed Dodds, especially with Richardson’s value at its lowest point.
There is also a hint of where O’Connell may stand. After the Vikings beat the Colts 21-13 on Nov. 3, 2024, his words to Richardson suggested he still saw something worth believing in. O’Connell may get a chance to test that belief up close.
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