Colts GM Chris Ballard urged to rip the band-aid off and part ways with former first-rounder ahead of the 2026 season
The Indianapolis Colts have one major move left to make this offseason, and it will be best for everyone when it’s all said and done. The question is, what’s the holdup?
![Former Gator football player Anthony Richardson returned to Gainesville for a ceremony retiring his Eastside High School football jersey, during the spring football game at Citizens Field in Gainesville Florida, Thursday, May 14, 2026. After playing for Eastside, Richardson went on to play for the Florida Gators, and then was drafted in 2023 in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts. [Cyndi Chambers/ Gainesville Sun] 2026](https://atozsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/USATSI_28957912-scaled.jpg)
I think it’s safe to say that the Anthony Richardson experiment with the Indianapolis Colts is over, or at least from a starting quarterback standpoint. However, Richardson remains not only on the team but a participant, evidenced by his recent usage at mandatory minicamp.
But Richardson requested a trade months ago at this point, and beyond that, the Colts have hitched their wagon to Daniel Jones, with a multiyear deal this offseason. So there’s only one move to make, and ESPN is imploring the Colts to get the job done.
Anthony Richardson career stats
Three years of playing.
- 8-7 across 15 career starts.
- 2,400 passing yards.
- 11 touchdowns, 13 interceptions.
ESPN wants the Colts to finally trade Anthony Richardson
“It’s clear that Richardson is no longer part of the Colts’ plans and that they are much more likely to make 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard their backup to Daniel Jones. However, Richardson is still just 24 years old, and any team that wants to acquire him would have him in their system for a season and then have a chance to evaluate him internally before he becomes a free agent at the end of 2026. Despite a $4 million roster bonus coming his way in July, he could be intriguing if there’s another team with a veteran starter and room on the roster for a developmental quarterback.”
Why haven’t the Colts traded Anthony Richardson
Supply and demand, it’s the most basic of economic principles, and it’s the reason why Richardson has yet to be traded. Right now, as we are in the middle of summer break for most teams, everyone’s quarterback room is healthy. So the supply far outweighs the demand.
But when training camp rolls around, and the preseason occurs, and then the regular season, if a starter or even a backup goes down, that’s when teams will come calling for Anthony Richardson.
The Colts weren’t the only team that saw a talented but raw passer, and it’s a matter of when, not if Richardson receives his second shot.