A fresh start may be on the way for Colts QB Anthony Richardson. These teams provide him the best chance for a career revival.
All signs continue to point to the Indianapolis Colts eventually sending 2023 first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson elsewhere via a trade. The latest news on the club declining his upcoming option only furthers speculation.
Finding the right trade partner for Richardson may be the only hurdle left to clear. The Colts appear ready to turn their offense back over to signal caller Daniel Jones, who had an impressive rebound season last year cut short by an unfortunate Achilles injury.
Here is more on the Colts’ decision to decline Richardson’s fifth-year option and their path forward from Colts Roundtable writer Jake Arthur.
As for trade partner options, there are a few teams that could be intrigued, and more importantly, offer positive situations for Richardson.
Green Bay Packers
Richardson could view the path of now-Miami Dolphins starter Malik Willis as a model worth following. Willis developed quite well behind Packers quarterback Jordan Love and under head coach Matt LaFleur. Richardson could attempt to soak up some of the same fortune with Green Bay.
New York Jets
Jets passer Geno Smith saw a late-career rebound and could be a strong mentor for Richardson. In exchange, New York, which doesn’t have much to show behind Smith with Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook and rookie Cade Klubnik filling out the room, gets an athletic option with impressive physical traits.This could be a winning situation both ways.
San Francisco 49ers
The Kyle Shanahan car wash should be any NFL quarterback’s dream right now. Signal callers Sam Darnold and Mac Jones have both reaped the benefits of the process, and so too could Richardson.
Carolina Panthers
Is anyone sure that the Panthers have their quarterback of the future? Richardson could land an advantageous backup role in Carolina with Bryce Young seeing another chance to prove he’s the franchise’s future. Meanwhile, he provides the Panthers a player with high-upside potential at the position should Young fail to follow up on an improved, though inconsistent, 2025 performance.
Richardson has appeared in just 17 games over his three-year NFL career thus far. Battling injuries and other hurdles, he’s been limited to completing just 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 67.8 passer rating.
He’s also added 10 rushing touchdowns.