Colts’ LB Zaire Franklin was recently asked about the QB competition between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson.
On a recent appearance on Sirius XM’s NFL radio, Indianapolis Colts’ linebacker Zaire Franklin was asked about the quarterback competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones.
Franklin didn’t indicate where things stand currently or how he sees the competition unfolding. But regardless of how things shake out during training camp, Franklin trusts that Shane Steichen will make the right decision.
“First and foremost, I trust Shane,” Franklin said. “Shane is somebody I got full trust in and that’s his decision to make. The guy that he feels is the best to lead that offensive side and help get our team to the promise land, I’m behind him.”
While there is uncertainty at the quarterback position for the Colts, this is a well put-together roster around that player, and with some steady play from under center, the opportunity to bank some wins should exist for Indianapolis.
In the backfield is Jonathan Taylor, who finished fourth in rushing yards last season. The Colts also added Tyler Warren at tight end and were the only team in the NFL to have three wideouts all eclipse 800 yards each in 2024.
Defensively, the secondary has been reshaped this offseason, and the addition of Lou Anarumo, with his more aggressive and disguise-heavy scheme, should help elevate the play of that entire unit.
So far, the quarterback competition hasn’t really been able to get going with Richardson sidelined for most of OTAs and all of minicamp.
With all the additional first-team reps that Jones had this offseason, he will likely enter training camp with the upper hand, but the competition will be far from over–although it will be important that Richardson hit the ground running once he returns.
As Steichen said earlier this offseason, he’s ultimately looking for day-to-day consistency when it comes to determining who the starter is.
“At the same time, both of those guys offer different strengths and different mentalities,” Franklin added. “Just kind of when you looking at it, obviously Daniel, he’s been a starter in this league, he’s been to the playoffs, but he has his different strengths. Anthony’s the younger playmaker.”