The Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. have mutually agreed to seek a trade that would give the 2023 No. 4 overall pick a fresh start, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
Wolfe reported that the Colts met with Richardson’s agent Thursday morning, and both sides decided that it was in their best interest to explore trade options.
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Indianapolis took a big swing on the 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson, who came out of Florida with jaw-dropping ability but also passing inconsistencies that made him an especially unpredictable prospect.
Richardson’s showcased glimpses of stardom with the Colts, most notably a bazooka for an arm, however, his three-season stint with the team has been marred by injuries and, yes, inconsistency.
As Indianapolis pushes toward re-signing Daniel Jones, who beat out Richardson for the QB1 job last year, Richardson will look toward the future.
Anthony Richardson Sr. has started 15 games across three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
(Dylan Buell via Getty Images)
Richardson backed up Jones this past season until he fractured his orbital bone during pregame warmups at Lucas Oil Stadium leading up to a Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Shane Steichen described the latest of Richardson’s injuries as a “fluke accident,” which occurred while he was working with a stretching band in the locker room.
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The Colts placed Richardson on injured reserve, and he didn’t appear in another game the rest of the way, including as Indianapolis scrambled down the stretch to find a replacement for Jones. They famously brought a 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement. Rivers played admirably after close to five seasons without an NFL snap, but the 8-9 Colts went 0-3 in his three starts and were eliminated from postseason contention after starting the season 8-2.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard told reporters Tuesday at the NFL combine that Richardson is cleared to play but still has “a ways to go” for a complete recovery.
“It’s trending in the right direction,” Ballard said.
After making four starts as a rookie in 2023, Richardson got the nod for 11 more in 2024. In and out of the lineup with injuries, Richardson posted an 8-7 record as the starter along the way.
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But that mark didn’t tell the whole story. He threw 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. And in 2024, he registered a 47.7% completion percentage, the lowest among qualifying quarterbacks that season.
Richardson is still only 23 years old. He has one season remaining on his rookie contract — that is, if his fifth-year option isn’t picked up — and, according to The Athletic, he has a $10.8 million cap hit in 2026.