The Indianapolis Colts have given their 2023 No. 4 overall pick, Anthony Richardson, permission to explore a trade. According to insider Matthew Berry, the Cleveland Browns are a name to monitor when it comes to Richardson.

“Final QB nugget is that the Colts are expected to move on from Anthony Richardson this offseason and a potential landing spot for him is Cleveland, where Todd Monken, who spent the last few years coaching Lamar Jackson, could try to develop Richardson’s considerable athletic gifts,” said Berry in his column.

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The former Florida Gators quarterback entered the league as one of the most intriguing prospects in his class, drawing attention for his elite arm strength and rare athleticism.

Despite his upside, Anthony Richardson has had a rocky start to his NFL career, starting just 15 games in three seasons, and throwing 11 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. While Richardson still has areas of his game that need development, the Cleveland Browns would be a perfect fit for the next chapter of his career.

The Good About Anthony Richardson

Let’s face it, Anthony Richardson has every intangible you can think of. Freak speed, adequate size, and a rocket of an arm all come to mind when you think about Richardson.

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His issues come with him being young, immature, and underdeveloped — but that’s also where Richardson becomes intriguing.

Richardson is only 23 years old, a similar age to many of the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Furthermore, the NFL has recently seen former castoffs, like Sam Darnold and Geno Smith, revive their careers. With his rare physical tools and elite upside, there is every reason to believe Richardson could turn things around in the right situation.

The Bad About Anthony Richardson

Anthony Richardson has had plenty of ugly moments in his NFL career. The one many fans point to is from a 2024 Week 8 game against the Texans, in which Richardson substituted himself out of a game for a non-injury-related breather. Combine this with a long list of injuries to his shoulder, back, pinky, and even his eye, and it’s easy to see why the Colts are over the Anthony Richardson experience.

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But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and when considering the low asking price, adding Richardson to the Browns’ roster is intriguing.

Why the Browns?

The Cleveland Browns need to add talent to their quarterback room. Despite drafting two quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel in the 2025 draft, neither player has shown enough promise to lock up the starting job in 2026. The Browns are all but a lock to add another QB, and that someone might just be Anthony Richardson.

Richardson fits what the new Browns head coach, Todd Monken, likes in a quarterback. Richardson is a true dual threat with ability to gash defenses with his legs. By mixing this “scheme” fit with the fact that Richardson’s market price will be very low (many think it will cost just a Day 3 pick, something the Browns have plenty of in 2026 and 2027) and it’s easy to see how this pairing can be attractive for both the Browns and Richardson.

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The Browns would be adding a former first-round talent at minimal cost to compete with presumed favorite Sanders and veteran Deshaun Watson. It is a low-risk move with legitimate upside. Richardson could enter with a clean slate in a new organization committed to developing young talent, something he both needs and would benefit from at this stage of his career.

Given the price and opportunity within the Browns’ quarterback room, this feels like a move that could happen sooner rather than later.

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