Should the Colts trade for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to start over Anthony Richardson in 2025?

The NFL offseason has already picked up steam with the news that the Los Angeles Rams are allowing veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford to speak to other teams. While this doesn't guarantee a trade happens, it opens the door for other teams to speak with Stafford about his potential interest in joining them and then the chance […]

Destin Adams — NFL News Writer
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Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) against the Minnesota Vikings during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The NFL offseason has already picked up steam with the news that the Los Angeles Rams are allowing veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford to speak to other teams. 

While this doesn't guarantee a trade happens, it opens the door for other teams to speak with Stafford about his potential interest in joining them and then the chance to pull off a trade with the Rams. Multiple teams should reach out to Stafford and the Rams, one of those being the Indianapolis Colts. But when it's all said and done, should the Colts trade for Stafford? 

Should the Colts trade for Matthew Stafford? 

The last time Stafford was available for trade, the Colts were among multiple teams that reportedly had serious interest in the 2009 NFL Draft's number-one overall pick. Ultimately, the Rams landed Stafford, and he repaid them by leading them to a Super Bowl victory in his first season with the team, the 2021-2022 season. 

Since striking out on Stafford, the Colts have had multiple starting QBs and drafted Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick. His first two seasons have been rocky, but he has shown flashes of the next-level upside that led him to being drafted so high. However, the inconsistency and his injuries have stopped the Colts' offense from finding a rhythm, and they have missed the playoffs in both seasons since drafting the quarterback. In contrast, Stafford has successfully led the Rams to the postseason in three of his four seasons in Los Angeles. 

Adding a proven veteran like Stafford would certainly give the Colts a better outlook for the 2025 season, but it would lead to some questions about the long-term future. For one, the Rams could request Richardson to be included in a trade for Stafford. One of Richardon's best performances since being drafted came during the 2023 season against the Rams. So, they would have to decide if trading for Stafford is worth ending this experiment early. And the words Ballard shared after drafting him come to mind that he would have hated someone else getting Richardson and seeing him become a superstar elsewhere. 

If the Colts were able to trade for Stafford and keep Richardson, they would have to figure out if Richardson would be able to take this as an opportunity to learn from a veteran quarterback who has led a team to a Super Bowl victory. The team was impressed with how Richardson responded to being benched this past year, but it happening again, and likely for a full season if not more, would be hard sell. And he only has two more years on his current rookie contract before they have to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option. So, I think there are only two paths that truly make sense for the Colts on the subject. The first includes Richardson in a trade for Stafford, ending this experiment with the team altogether and giving Richardson a fresh start with a well-respected offensive mind like Sean McVay. The second would be passing on the chance to trade for Stafford and give Richardson one final chance to prove he is ready to become the franchise quarterback the team drafted him to be. 

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