Colts make their decision on former first-round pick Anthony Richardson’s future with the team at the perfect time
The Colts and Anthony Richardson seem to be heading toward the conclusion many expected, but now it’s been made official.
The writing has been on the wall for Anthony Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts ever since the team elected to name veteran Daniel Jones as the team’s starting quarterback for the 2025 season.
That only intensified during the team’s miraculous 8-1 start to the year, when Jones was playing arguably the best football of his career and was widely regarded as a top-10 QB in the NFL through the first half of the year.
It seems we are heading toward the conclusion of this saga, with news out of Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine saying the Colts have granted Richardson permission to seek a trade.
Colts give Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade out of Indianapolis
According to ESPN’s Colts beat writer Stephen Holder, the Colts have granted Richardson and his representation the ability to seek out a trade partner for the 2023 first-round pick. Things haven’t gone to plan for the former fourth-overall pick, as multiple injuries, including some freak incidents, have left him without much rhythm at the NFL level.
He’s only logged 15 starts over his three seasons in the NFL, after appearing in only 24 games in college with the Florida Gators. The thing he needs more than anything at this stage of his career is reps, something the Colts, who are focused on retaining Daniel Jones, clearly didn’t plan on giving him.
Anthony Richardson’s stats since being drafted by the Colts
- 2023 (4 games): 2-2 record, 50/84 pass attempts (59.5%), 577 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 136 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
- 2024 (11 games): 6-5 record, 126/264 pass attempts (47.7%), 1,814 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, 499 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns
- 2025 (2 games): 0 starts, 1/2 pass attempts (50%), 9 passing yards, -1 rushing yards
The Colts’ doing this during the Scouting Combine was a brilliant decision
This has been the expected ending for a while now between the Colts and Richardson. But it does need to be made known that the Colts are granting this request, while all 32 teams are in Indianapolis for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, is brilliant.
The faster this gets taken care of, the better for the Colts, whose main focus right now is extending Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce ahead of March 9, when the league’s legal tampering period begins. I could see things moving pretty quickly. I wouldn’t even be surprised if a potential trade comes together before the combine week concludes.
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