Browns should not trade for Colts’ Anthony Richardson for Shedeur Sanders reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cleveland Browns enter the 2026 offseason with a very interesting question at the quarterback position.

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Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel are the potential starting options for 2026. But the Browns could go out and add a new quarterback this offseason.

And with Stephen Holder of ESPN reporting the Indianapolis Colts are giving Anthony Richardson a chance to seek a trade, the Browns could be a fit. But they shouldn’t go after Richardson, thanks to what Sanders did in 2025.

Why Browns shouldn’t target Anthony Richardson in a trade

“The Indianapolis Colts have given QB Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade, given his uncertain future in Indy, ESPN has learned,” Holder reports.

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With the high-potential 2023 first-round and fourth-overall draft pick now on the trade block, any quarterback needy-team will be linked to Richardson.

But the Browns should not pursue Richardson this offseason. Sanders provided the reason why last season.

With a beat-up offensive line and a lackluster wide receiver corps, Sanders struggled as the starter and couldn’t provide a lot of insight into whether he was the future of the QB position in Cleveland.

If the Browns trade for Richardson, with their entire offensive line set to leave and their lackluster wide receiver room needing major improvements, Richardson won’t be in a good environment to develop.

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The Colts’ 23-year-old quarterback needs to go to a good environment for a chance to develop. A team like the Minnesota Vikings would be a far better fit for Richardson.

In Richardson’s career, he has 11 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His completion percentage of 50.6% shows how much he struggles with accuracy.

With a shaky offensive line and wide receiver corps, Richardson wouldn’t get much of a chance to develop or prove he’s worth investing in if the Browns traded for him.

Sanders struggled in a similar environment, and while Richardson came into the NFL with much higher potential, his struggles in the league with the Colts would make his fit in Cleveland a terrible one.

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