The Kansas City Chiefs traded for Justin Fields as they're backup QB, but Anthony Richardson was also an option.
The Kansas City Chiefs have traded for quarterback Justin Fields to be their backup, and it’s not exactly surprising that they gave up nearly nothing to get him. Before that, though, they explored a trade for another former top quarterback who is also earning a reputation as being a bust.
That wold be Anthony Richardson Sr., according to Sam Robinson of ProFootballRumor. com via a report from Jason LaCanfora of SportsBoom. Richardson has been a starter for three years for the Indianapolis Colts, but he was given permission to seek a deal when the Colts found success with former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones until Jones finally suffered a season-ending leg injury.
Richardson’s back story is well worth exploring, so let’s go there. He was the fourth pick overall in 2024, and that selection came with a lot of controversy. At 6’4” and 245 pounds, the quarterback is an amazing athlete with the ability to run over or around defenders once he escapes from the pocket, but throwing accurately is another matter entirely.
The Colts thought they could develop him, but Richardson’s lone season as a starter explains why he’s now trying to find his own deal. His completion percentage was just 47 percent, and Richardson also threw 12 interceptions to go with just 8 touchdown passes.
Indianapolis was patient with him until Richardson’s work ethic came into question, but he’s now coming to the end of his rookie contract, which means he can no longer be considered a developmental quarterback.
There hasn’t been much interest so far, which is why the Chiefs were sniffing around. The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers are also rumored to be considering Richardson, and the theoretical price is a late-round draft pick, which is what the Chiefs gave up to get Fields from the New York Jets.
But the Colts are holding out for the best deal possible, so the Chiefs decided they couldn’t play the waiting game anymore and made the Fields deal.
The potential here is fascinating to consider, though. Richardson has a cannon for an arm, and developing him into a real NFL quarterback would bring back a solid haul of draft capital if coach Andy Reid could make that happen.
Richardson would also offer intriguing insurance if quarterback Patrick Mahomes struggles in his initial attempts to get back on the field and his rehab takes longer than expected. Richardson and Fields may end up being interchangeable quarterbacks who can’t master the most essential part of the position, but Richardson in Kansas City would have been a QB lab experiment that would have been fun to watch.