Anthony Richardson was drafted to bend the league to his will. At 6-foot-4 with a rocket arm and rare speed, the 2023 fourth overall pick looked like the kind of quarterback who could overwhelm defenses before they ever settled in.
Three seasons later, the picture is much messier. Richardson has completed 50.6% of his passes, thrown 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and appeared in 17 games. Injuries have taken a major toll, including a season-ending orbital fracture in 2025, but the bigger concern is that the Indianapolis Colts still haven’t seen steady enough quarterback play to fully trust him.
The raw talent has never been the issue. Richardson arrived in the NFL with only 13 starts at Florida, which made him one of the most intriguing physical prospects in the draft and one of the least polished. Indianapolis was betting that coaching, reps, and patience could turn the upside into something real.
That hasn’t happened. His completion rate dropped from 59.5% in four games as a rookie to 47.7% in 2024.
He can still deliver eye-popping throws and punish defenses as a runner, but the simpler parts of the job - accuracy, timing, consistency - have not come along nearly fast enough. The well-known moment when he tapped out of a game in 2024 also sparked questions about whether he was ready for the grind of being an NFL starter, even if one play shouldn’t define his entire career.
There’s no question that injuries have played a role. Development matters too. But at some point, “raw” stops sounding like a projection and starts sounding like the problem itself.
A change of scenery might still be possible, though it would not be a cure-all. In February, it was reported that the Colts and Richardson had agreed to explore a trade, but no deal is certain, and the interest around him appears far lighter than what usually follows a former top-five pick.
Any team considering Richardson would need a clear plan. That means cutting down his early reads, leaning into quick throws, using his legs in measured ways, and letting his arm strength create explosives without forcing him into the role of a finished pocket passer. He needs reps, stability, and a coach willing to build him up instead of assuming he’s already there.
At the same time, a new situation can’t be an escape hatch from the harder parts of playing quarterback. Richardson still has to sharpen his footwork, improve his accuracy, and speed up his processing.
A better system can help. It cannot do the throwing for him.
The Colts have already moved on with Daniel Jones, and Richardson’s future in Indianapolis is unsettled. He is still young enough for another team to take a flier, but the runway that comes with being a franchise quarterback is getting shorter. A former top-five pick sliding into backup territory or a reclamation role is not the same thing as being done for good, but it is a long way from the expectations that came with his selection.
Richardson’s career is also a reminder that drafting a gifted athlete only works if the team has the patience and structure to develop him properly. Maybe he eventually becomes the kind of quarterback people thought they were getting. Maybe he turns into the cautionary tale instead.
For now, the evidence points more toward the second outcome.
In Other News...
Purdue's Bye Week Reset Faces A Road Test That Could Say Plenty
Purdue comes out of its bye week with a chance to turn a little rest into something more meaningful, and the timing feels right for a road game that could reveal plenty about where this team really stands. The Boilermakers are 3-4 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play, while Penn State is also 3-4 and still searching for its first league win under Matt Campbell, which gives this matchup a little more urgency than the records alone might suggest.
The break gave Purdue time to recover from injuries and sort through some recent uneven play, and there are a few key areas that could decide whether that reset pays off. Penn State has had trouble in the red zone and against the run, while Purdue has its own issues to clean up in those same spaces, making this the kind of game where one or two drives could swing the day and say a lot about how far the Boilermakers have come since their last outing. [Read more 🡒]
Purdues Final Tune-Up Exposed A Scoring Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Purdues final preseason test against No. 4 UConn offered an unflinching look at where the offense stands heading into the real thing. The Boilermakers fell 76-53, shot just 38.7% from the field and never found much rhythm against a defense that crowded the floor and turned transition into a problem. C.J. Cox led Purdue with 18 points, but the game also underscored how much the young supporting cast still has to learn before Big Ten play settles in.
Daniel Jacobsen was one of the clearer bright spots, giving Purdue a presence inside and showing signs of growth on the defensive end while helping with blocks and rebounds. Even so, the broader concern was hard to miss as the smaller lineups struggled to hold up against UConns length, pace and pressure. For a team that is expected to contend, the final tune-up left behind more questions about scoring balance and shot-making than answers. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Painter Sent Purdue An Early Warning After Ugly UConn Loss
Purdues exhibition against No. 4 UConn offered an early look at where the Boilermakers still have work to do before the games start counting. The 76-53 loss was especially rough on the perimeter and on the glass, and Matt Painter came away with a clear sense that his team has to get tougher, cleaner and more disciplined in the next stretch of practices if it wants to be ready for the regular season.
Painter also had reason to take note of some individual performances, especially from younger players who are still adjusting to the speed and physicality of high-level college basketball. Even in a game that exposed several flaws, there were a few spots worth building on, but the bigger takeaway was how far Purdue still has to go in turning that kind of effort into something that travels once the season begins. [Read more 🡒]