Anthony

Richardson

Per Chappell, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said on Saturday that he “hadn’t given too much thought” to the fifth-year option that would have paid Richardson $22.483 million in 2027. Apparently, Ballard didn’t need long to pass on an extra year with Richardson. The 23-year-old quarterback received permission from the team to seek a trade, and as of Sunday, the Colts had not received any inquiries. Releasing Richardson at some point currently seems to be the most likely outcome for Indianapolis. The deadline to exercise team options for the 2023 rookie class is tomorrow.

Per Ballard, both the players and the team just have to “have a little patience here and see what happens.” Ballard adds that he does not know if Richardson and Moore will attend the Colts’ voluntary organized team activities next week. It seems likely that both players will be released at some point in the near future if they don’t want to play with the Colts this season.

The Colts have agreed to explore trades for both Moore and Richardson, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to hear that neither player plans to be present for the voluntary offseason workout programs. For now, the trade market for both players has been quiet, but it’s possible they gain more steam during or after the NFL Draft, once teams have had a chance to evaluate their rosters and identify where needs still exist. Speaking later in the day, Colts GM Chris Ballard said the chance would consider releasing Moore if they were unable to find a trade partner for the veteran corner.

Richardson, a former first-round draft pick who has flamed out in three seasons with Indy, has been linked to other teams this offseason, including the Packers, who lost backup QB Malik Willis to the Dolphins in free agency. Ballard on Monday said there’s still a chance Richardson stays with the Colts in 2026. “There’s definitely a scenario there. He’s a good dude and he’s talented. I mean, I still want good for Anthony, man,” Ballard said. “I still think he’s got a lot in him. He’s had some freaking bad luck, but I still think Anthony has got a lot of ability and he’s maturing and growing. He’s still young.” The most inaccurate passer in the NFL since entering the league in 2023, Richardson, 23, has struggled with various injuries, including a severe eye injury suffered in a freak training accident last season. ESPN’s Stephen Holder said Richardson could be seen as expendable since Riley Leonard is “now seen as a viable No. 2 quarterback” following his late-season performance in 2025.

Previous reports have indicated that trade talks for Richardson are far enough along that a deal could be completed this weekend. The Buccaneers, Chiefs, Lions, Packers, Rams and Ravens have all reportedly checked in. While Holder reports that no deal is imminent, he points out the Packers, who lost backup QB Malik Willis this offseason, as the team to monitor. Compensation for Richardson in a trade is likely to be no more than a late-round draft pick. Richardson, who turns 24 in May, has started only 15 games in three seasons for the Colts.

Wouldn’t be the first trade of regrets between the Browns and Colts for a Richardson. The Vikings and Richardson reportedly have mutual interest, but the Browns are the second team we’ve seen publicly linked to them by the sourced men. It’s hard to fault any offensive-minded head coach for seeing Richardson’s tools and thinking they can work with them, but it’s going to be a major heat check by whoever ultimately takes the risk.

It’s the first team we’ve seen linked to Richardson, though we’re not really sure what the Vikings would get out of adding a quarterback who has missed a lot of games and struggled to be accurate when he has been on the field to a room that already has a rookie-contract quarterback doing those things. We’ll see where this goes. It would not be surprising if Richardson surfaces as a backup option somewhere in 2026, as he seems locked out of the role in Indianapolis.

This news comes shortly after it was announced that the Colts and Richardson would explore trade options for the former No. 4 overall pick. Richardson suffered a fractured orbital bone last season that landed him on injured reserve. Colts GM Chris Ballard said on Tuesday at the combine that Richardson was “cleared to play,” but the third-year quarterback dealt with impaired vision for an extended period of time while recovering. Richardson has one year left on his rookie contract, which will likely be a prove-it year, as the Colts or any acquiring team is unlikely to exercise his fifth-year option. Richardson is an intriguing reclamation project for any team interested in taking a shot at the versatile signal-caller, but he will have a short time to prove himself as a player worth keeping beyond the 2026 season.

This is in everyone’s best interest. The Colts will likely bring back Daniel Jones in free agency. Even though they will need a solid backup because of Jones’s Achilles injury, Richardson is a lottery ticket that might become a starter, not a steady QB2 option. It’s time for someone else to take a crack at unlocking Richardson’s potential. With Richardson clearly out of the team’s long-term plans, it shouldn’t take much in the way of draft picks to acquire him. Teams embarking on a rebuild would be wise to make an offer, even if Richardson is now a high-risk bet at his position.

Riley Leonard’s work over the back half of the season has “warmed” the Colts on the idea that he can ascend to their No. 2 job. Richardson is a) probably not going to require much compensation in a trade and b) probably not guaranteed to do more than compete for a starting job wherever he lands. Still, fantasy upside resides in those legs, so we’ll be watching and hoping he lands somewhere where he has a chance to win a job.