Anthony Richardson’s future with the Indianapolis Colts continues to feel uncertain.
Benjamin Allbright reported Wednesday that multiple quarterbacks could be on the move in the next few weeks, listing Tua Tagovailoa, Dillon Gabriel, J.J. McCarthy and Richardson as names who have had calls placed on them to “varying degrees of interest.”
That
does not mean Richardson is definitely being traded, and it does not even necessarily mean the Colts are actively shopping him. There is a big difference between teams calling about a player and a team being ready to move him. Still, Richardson’s inclusion is notable because of where things stand in Indianapolis.
The Colts have already made their quarterback situation clear at the top. Daniel Jones is the starter, and Richardson is competing with rookie Riley Leonard for the backup job. Indianapolis has publicly backed Richardson throughout the offseason and training camp, and the team has said it plans to keep three quarterbacks. On the surface, that would suggest Richardson is not going anywhere.
The problem is that the NFL can change quickly, especially at quarterback.
Richardson remains one of the most interesting backup quarterbacks in the league because of his age, draft pedigree and physical tools. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and even after a frustrating start to his career, there will always be teams willing to talk themselves into the upside. Quarterbacks with his size, arm strength and athletic ability do not become available often, even when the production or play have not matched the traits.
For the Colts, the decision would come down to value. Moving Richardson just to move him would make little sense, especially if the return is minimal. He still gives Indianapolis a high-upside backup behind Jones, and with Leonard also on the roster, the Colts have more quarterback depth than most teams. Trading Richardson would only be logical if another team made an offer strong enough to justify giving up on the remaining upside.
For now, this is more smoke than fire. Calls being placed does not guarantee movement, and the Colts do not have to force anything. However, Richardson’s name appearing in quarterback trade chatter is another reminder of how quickly his situation has changed.
Two years ago, he was supposed to be the future of the franchise. Now, teams are at least checking to see if Indianapolis would consider moving him.
