Anthony Richardson’s time with the Indianapolis Colts looks close to ending. What once felt like a franchise-altering draft pick now feels like a stalled experiment, and both sides could benefit from a fresh start.
With a key contract decision looming and his trade value at its lowest point, Indianapolis has a clear opportunity to move on. One team that makes real sense as a landing spot is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Anthony Richardson’s Situation With the Colts
Richardson’s 2025 season was a disaster on multiple levels. He lost the starting job to veteran Daniel Jones during training camp, played only 14 garbage-time snaps, and recorded just nine passing yards before a freak pregame accident in October resulted in a season-ending orbital fracture.
He was cleared to practice later in the year but never returned due to lingering vision issues. Meanwhile, Jones entrenched himself as the preferred option, and rookie Riley Leonard emerged as a viable developmental backup.
With the May 1, 2026, deadline approaching for his fifth-year option, the Colts are running out of reasons to keep him. Analysts widely believe Richardson has already played his last snap in Indianapolis.
Potential Anthony Richardson Trade Idea
Steelers Receive: Anthony Richardson
Colts Receive: 2026 third-round pick
Why the Steelers Make Sense
The Steelers finished 10-7 and won the AFC North, but their playoff exit made one thing clear: this roster has limits. Aaron Rodgers brought stability to the offense, yet his presence does little to answer Pittsburgh’s long-term quarterback question.
With Mike Tomlin gone and Mike McCarthy stepping in, the franchise has entered a transition. That shift creates an ideal window for Pittsburgh to take a calculated gamble on a developmental quarterback.
The Plan in Pittsburgh
Richardson wouldn’t step in as an immediate starter. With Rodgers potentially coming back and Mason Rudolph already in the picture, the team could ease him into a QB3 role and let him develop without urgency or outside pressure.
Using a third-round pick would be a calculated risk. Most projections placed Richardson in the fourth-to-sixth round range, but his age and long-term upside make the higher investment defensible for a team willing to stay patient.
Anthony Richardson’s Career So Far
Richardson stands out physically, but the numbers tell a different story. He has struggled with accuracy more than almost any quarterback of the modern era.
Through the 2025 season, he appeared in only 17 of a possible 51 games and completed 50.6% of his passes, throwing for 2,400 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Among more than 100 qualifying quarterbacks since 2000, he ranks last in both completion rate and overall accuracy across his first two seasons.
Injuries and inconsistency have shaped his career so far, despite flashes of promise as a runner. He has scored 10 rushing touchdowns and shown efficiency on the ground, but the passing issues remain. Right now, teams view him as a high-risk reclamation project rather than a reliable starter.
Why the Colts Should Move On
The Colts closed the 2025 season at 8–9 after one of the worst collapses in franchise history, sliding from an 8–2 start to seven straight losses. Quarterback instability defined the year, especially after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury. Even with the turbulence, the organization has settled on a direction.
Indianapolis seems like they want to re-sign Jones, while Riley Leonard develops behind him. Richardson no longer factors into the team’s long-term plans.
The Colts also face draft limitations, with no first-round picks in 2026 or 2027. Adding a third-round selection helps rebuild depth and gives the front office flexibility to target pressing roster needs.
Moving Richardson also wipes $10.8 million off the 2026 cap sheet. That financial relief creates room to upgrade the roster or lock in key contributors.
For Pittsburgh, the move represents a low-risk swing on rare physical traits. For Indianapolis, it draws a clear line under a stalled project and recovers value before it vanishes. Richardson still has talent you cannot coach, but his window in Indianapolis has closed. Pittsburgh may be one of the few places where he can reset his career without immediate pressure.
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