Does Anthony Richardson still have a future with the Indianapolis Colts despite the current trade rumors? Based on what assistant general manager Ed Dodds said this week, the answer might be yes.

Dodds was recently asked how he weighs Richardson wanting a trade out of Indy versus maintaining strong quarterback depth on the roster, and his response raised some eyebrows.

“I think you take care of your own team first. We want to have 3 quarterbacks who can play here, so if he’s one of them, he’s going to be here.”

That’s a notable statement, and it directly contradicts the recent reports from Ian Rapoport and Dan Graziano suggesting the Colts are actively looking for a trade partner for Richardson. It sounds a lot more like Indianapolis views this as an open competition for the backup roles rather than a foregone conclusion that Richardson is on his way out.

Richardson outplayed Riley Leonard in preseason opener

Now look, Riley Leonard is going to be on this roster no matter what. That’s not up for debate. He was just drafted a year ago by this same regime, and even got some late season action in 2025. But Richardson outperformed him in the preseason opener against the Patriots, even if it was just one game. In fact, Coach Shane Steichen was asked about Richardson’s performance after the game and acknowledged the good with the bad.

“He did some good things. We were moving the ball efficiently. Obviously the turnovers hurt us there. The fumble down there. We had two in the red zone, we threw two picks (obviously not all were from Anthony Richardson). You know, it’s just hard to maintain drives when you’re turning the ball over, but overall, I thought he did a lot of good things.”

I think you can debate the two turnovers from Richardson for what it’s worth. The fumble was certainly a result of the young QB trying to fight for extra yards, but the interception wasn’t necessarily his fault, despite it being an inaccurate throw. What matters more is what happened after that rough first drive, after the adversity hit. Richardson bounced back and played a pretty solid game, all things considered.

Steichen was asked specifically about Richardson’s ability to recover after that shaky start, and he didn’t hold back.

“It was huge. I think even the 2-minute drive at the end of the half was big to get us down there. He did a lot of good things. He threw it well. I think he had a good completion percentage (78%). He was going to the right spots with the football.”

If that’s what you’re getting out of Anthony Richardson on a consistent basis, I can absolutely see why the Colts are still considering keeping him on the roster for this season, although it might not be in their best interest long-term.

What happens if Indianapolis moves on?

There’s still a scenario where Anthony Richardson doesn’t look as sharp in the two upcoming preseason games against Atlanta and Detroit, and finds himself removed from this roster (whether through trade or release) heading into the regular season.

If that happens, you have to look at the options, because Dodds bluntly stated that they want three guys who can play at the position. Indianapolis brought in Easton Stick during the offseason as the fourth quarterback, and he didn’t even play in the preseason opener. I can’t imagine the coaching staff feels too confident in his abilities, even as a more-veteran option.

If the Colts let Anthony Richardson go via trade or just a straight up cut, there are some names to watch, though none are spectacular.

Jimmy Garoppolo is still a free agent and wants to play even at 34 years old, so that could be a safe veteran addition to bolster the quarterback room. It’s nothing too exciting but you have to consider the role he would be brought into play, which is essentially an emergency situation QB.

You could also look at Pittsburgh, which has four quality quarterbacks right now. What are the Steelers going to do with either veteran Mason Rudolph or second-year man Will Howard? They are obviously rolling with 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers and drafted rookie Drew Allar in the third round this year, and I find it hard to believe that Mike McCarthy would keep 4 quarterbacks on his active roster in today’s NFL.

With Rudolph, you’re getting a veteran who knows how to operate in a backup role as he has for most of his career. With Howard, you could land a talented young quarterback who has shown real potential. With that being said, either of those guys has to hit the open market or Pittsburgh has to be open for a trade, but if the situation arises, I could see the Colts targeting one of the two. 

The bigger picture

The major takeaway here is simple: it sounds like Anthony Richardson’s future could still be in Indianapolis for this upcoming season. Despite all the trade rumors and speculation, the Colts seem to view this as an actual possibility. Based on what we saw in the preseason opener and what both Dodds and Steichen have said, Richardson is making a case for himself. Don’t count him out just yet, even if every fiber within you wants to.