Indianapolis Colts QB Chris Ballard went out of his way to confirm that former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson is on thin ice heading into his third season in the NFL, as completing under 50% of your passes and asking to be taken out of a game for a play may not be ideal for his long-term security.
Ballard confirmed that he is going to bring in some competition for Richardson, who was benched last season, at the quarterback spot, be it through the draft or free agency. Even Joe Flacco at 40 years old proved to be some worthwhile competition for Richardson, and now the Colts have the ability to commit resources to an even better quarterback.
While the Colts may want Richardson to break out, it is clear they won't be able to get the most out of him without someone pushing him for playing time. Ballard may need to take a look at one of these three quarterbacks if the biggest goal this offseason is trying to push Richardson's buttons in the most effective way.
3. Daniel Jones, Minnesota Vikings
Jones was a catastrophic failure after signing his second contract with the Giants, as he was hurt for a good chunk of it and didn't even average one touchdown pass per game when he was healthy. After a brief sabbatical in Minnesota following his release, Jones will be scouring the market for available backup jobs.
Jones has proven to be a good athlete for the position, and he never had the best collection of wide receivers during his time in New York. If 2024 was the year of first-round busts being resurrected, Jones could be in for a similar bump in Indianapolis.
2. Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
Garoppolo proved to be a Kyle Shanahan merchant after getting benched halfway through the first year of a three-year Raiders contract, and he returned to that coaching tree last season as Sean McVay's backup. While the Matthew Stafford rumors make an LA return very enticing, Garoppolo may be interested in a chance to actually play.
Garoppolo is an efficient passer who can get the ball where it needs to go, and Shane Steichen's decision to roll with Flacco for a period of time shows that he values that over the tremendous mobility Richardson brings to the table. Garoppolo, who will turn 34 in November, still has some gas left in the tank.
1. Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders
Mariota spent last season backing up rookie sensation Jayden Daniels in Washington, and he managed to toss four touchdown passes in limited action. With Daniels locked in as the Commanders' starter for the foreseeable future, Mariota could be on the move again if he wants a shot at another starting role.
Mariota is still a very effective runner who can avoid turnovers and accurately whip the ball around the field, which is likely what the Colts envisioned Richardson would be when they drafted him. Mariota may have the best chance at replacing Richardson No. 5 starts to falter.