The Indianapolis Colts are taking the right route with quarterback Anthony Richardson. He requested a trade early in the offseason, but the team made sure he was the one who worked out a deal elsewhere. He couldn't. Now, he's taking QB1 duties for Indy in organized team activities.
That might be simply to show other teams that Richardson is fully back from breaking his orbital bone ahead of Week 6 last season. Teams wants to know he is available as needed to play. One of the franchises that might be most interested is the New York Jets.
New York traded for quarterback Geno Smith this offseason, and the plan might have been to have Russell Wilson join the team as Smith's backup. (That is somewhat ironic as Smith backed up Wilson for several seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.) Wilson, though, decided to retire and become a studio analyst for NFL games on CBS.
Anthony Richardson to the New York Jets might be the Indianapolis Colts' best option
The Jets could be looking to explore who would be their new QB2, and taking a chance on Richardson for one season might be worth the risk. The options currently behind Smith are extremely underwhelming.
The link between Richardson and the Jets has been suggested before, but New York appears to have held off on any move, maybe hoping for Russell Wilson instead. Should the Jets acquire the Indianapolis Colts backup, they would be getting a player who wants a chance to start but isn't a problem in the locker room when he doesn't.
That was the case last year after Daniel Jones beat out Richardson for QB1 duties in Indy. Jones was very good in the first half of the season, while Richardson watched (at least for the first five games, he watched). Jones was re-signed for two more seasons this offseason, meaning Richardson has no path to play.
That is seemingly further the case now, as Jones appears ahead of schedule to return from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 14 last year. The initial thinking was that he could miss the first few games of the year, but as he is already doing limited drills in OTAs, and the start of the season is still three months away, Jones might be ready for Week 1.
If he isn't, Riley Leonard is probably just as good an option to start in his place as Richardson. After all, Leonard was good in his one start last year (Week 18 against the Houston Texans), and he has three seasons left on his rookie deal. He is going to be with Indianapolis longer than Richardson, who is set for free agency next offseason.
As far as what the New York Jets could offer the Indianapolis Colts for Anthony Richardson Likely just a late-round 2027 draft pick. That might be the best Indy can get from any team.
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