9 Teams Bid On NFL’s Worst Starting QB As Colts Abandon $34M Investment After 15 Starts

A Vikings head coach’s viral sideline moment, “You’re a bad dude. You’re going to play a long time in this league. I still believe in you”, is now the most damning line in the Anthony Richardson story. Kevin O’Connell delivered those words to Richardson after a November 2024 game, while Richardson stood on the Colts sideline as a benched backup. Fifteen months later, the Indianapolis Colts have officially granted Richardson permission to seek a trade, and O’Connell’s Vikings are reportedly among the nine teams circling the 23-year-old quarterback.

The Numbers Behind The Exit

Richardson departs Indianapolis having started just 15 games across three NFL seasons, posting a career completion percentage of 50.6%. He threw for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, also adding 635 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on the ground. His 2024 campaign was even more alarming: a league-worst 47.7% completion rate across 11 starts.

The $34 Million Question

Oct 1, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) tackles Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) as he gets rid of the ball during the second half of the game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jenna Watson-Imagn Images

The Colts selected Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, an investment that carried a total rookie contract value of approximately $34 million. Three years later, NFL staffers have pegged his trade return at somewhere between a fourth-round and sixth-round compensatory pick, a fraction of the capital spent to acquire him. For context, the San Francisco 49ers traded third overall pick Trey Lance in 2023 and received only a fourth-round selection in return; Richardson’s expected return may land even lower given his career 67.8 passer rating.

A Season Ended By A Warmup Band

Richardson’s 2025 campaign ended before it truly began, not on the field, but during pregame warmups in Week 6, when a snapped elastic resistance band struck his face, fracturing his orbital bone and temporarily affecting his vision. It was the third consecutive season Richardson missed significant time, a pattern that has raised genuine durability questions despite the non-contact nature of the 2025 injury. He had thrown just two passes before the incident forced him to injured reserve for the remainder of the year.

Medical Clearance Reshapes His Market Value

Oct 15, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) smiles and takes photos with fans before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Richardson’s representatives moved quickly to counter the injury narrative heading into trade discussions. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, medical documentation submitted by Richardson’s camp confirmed full recovery, including 20/20 vision in both eyes following the orbital fracture. Colts GM Chris Ballard backed this up at the NFL Scouting Combine, confirming Richardson had been medically cleared to play. “Anthony’s still young. He’s still developing. So, we’ll see what the future holds. I still believe in Anthony,” Ballard told reporters, even as internal discussions about a trade were already underway.

The Agent’s Pitch: ‘Box Office’

Oct 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen greets quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) during warmups before the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Richardson’s agent did not hold back when speaking publicly about his client’s next chapter. “He needs a fresh start. His next stop, it’s going to be box office,” Richardson’s representative told Fox Sports, emphasizing that teams would be surprised by the quarterback’s football intelligence and maturity now that he has reached 23. A separate statement from agent Deiric Jackson, who met personally with Ballard on Thursday morning, framed the search bluntly: “Just looking for fits. Teams that want to build and put AR in a position to succeed.”

Miami’s Personal Pull

Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Large helmets of the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Among the nine teams reported as potential destinations, the Miami Dolphins carry significant personal meaning for Richardson. He is a Florida native who played college football at the University of Florida in Gainesville, just over three hours from South Beach. The Dolphins are rebuilding under new head coach Jeff Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, with no incumbent starter under center following their transition away from Tua Tagovailoa. A Richardson-Dolphins pairing would reunite a franchise-in-reset with a quarterback seeking exactly the fresh start his agents are advertising.

The Vikings’ Built-In Advantage

Feb 11, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) reacts during Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl LX parade. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

No team presents a stronger fit on paper than Minnesota. O’Connell’s track record of quarterback development is the most compelling argument for any team pursuing Richardson: he guided Sam Darnold to a Pro Bowl-caliber 2024 regular season and Kirk Cousins to a Pro Bowl season in Minnesota. The Vikings’ offense, built on pre-snap motion, play-action, and half-field reads, suits a dual-threat quarterback with Richardson’s athleticism. NFL Network reported mutual interest between the Vikings and Richardson’s camp, turning a viral sideline moment into an actionable trade pitch.

Daniel Jones Proved The Infrastructure Point

Oct 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) holds a football during warmups before the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The most uncomfortable subplot for Indianapolis is what happened after Richardson lost the starting job. Daniel Jones, a quarterback the New York Giants had essentially discarded, arrived in Indianapolis and posted 3,101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 68% completion rate across 13 games before a torn Achilles in Week 14 ended his season. That stunning turnaround under offensive coordinator Shane Steichen’s system has prompted a broader question: did the Colts’ development infrastructure fail Richardson, or did Richardson fail the Colts? Either way, the Colts are widely expected to commit long-term cap resources to re-sign Jones, making Richardson’s trade permission effectively permanent.

A High-Stakes Gamble Nine Teams Are Willing To Take

Oct 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) walks off the field after their win against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Richardson turns 24 in May and brings a physical profile, 6’4″, 244 pounds, a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the 2023 NFL Combine, that no other quarterback available this offseason can match. At a $1.145 million base salary for his new team, the financial risk is almost negligible; the Colts absorb approximately $5.4 million in dead cap regardless of destination. Nine teams, including the Dolphins, Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Chargers, have been linked to Richardson, a number that speaks less to any one team’s desperation and more to a league-wide recognition that elite athleticism at 23 is still worth one more shot.

Sources:
“Colts Grant QB Anthony Richardson OK to Seek Trade.” ESPN, February 2026.
“Colts Give QB Anthony Richardson Permission to Seek a Trade.” IndyStar, February 2026.
“Colts, Anthony Richardson Mutually Agree to Seek Trade.” NFL.com, February 2026.
“Anthony Richardson Landing Spots: Which Teams Could Be a Fit.” CBS Sports, February 2026.
“Big Picture: Anthony Richardson’s Agents Say QB’s Next Stop Will Be Box Office.” Fox Sports, February 2026.