With the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Anthony Richardson out of Florida, hoping that he could be their next franchise quarterback. For a team that once had Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck running the offense for them, the quarterback position has been messier since Luck abruptly retired.
Richardson is another quarterback in a long list of signal-callers that the Colts have tried to trot out and become the team's next franchise guy. So far, the experiment hasn't gone according to plan with the former Florida product getting injured early on during his rookie year and then underwhelming during Year 2.
Year 3 is do-or-die for Richardson and he's been dueling with Daniel Jones for the starting job in training camp and preseason. Richardson played well in the preseason loss to Green Bay and was candid about his performance and his chances of winning the starting job.
"It really doesn't matter what I think at the end of the day. It's really up to them. I feel like I've been trying to put my best foot forward, trying to grow each and every step of the way. I feel like I've been doing a decent job and improving, but at the end of the day, I just want to keep improving. If I do win the job, thank God. If not, I need to keep working.”
Anthony Richardson is saying all of the right things this preseason
Shane Steichen has previously said that he'd "like to have a decision here shortly" when it comes to the starting quarterback job. Richardson showed in the preseason loss to Green Bay that he can still do the things that made the Colts fall in love with him as a prospect but now it's about putting those things together and performing well more consistently.
When asked during his press conference if he thinks he's improved as a quarterback, Richardson said, "Yeah for sure" and then expanded on his answer.
"I feel more relaxed. I feel more confident in my game. Feel more confident in the offense. I feel more confident in my guys and my teammates. So, it's exciting what we're able to do out there whenever everything's rolling. I feel good. I'm confident with everything around me right now. I'm just excited.”
For some of the red flags Richardson carried with him in 2024, he's saying all of the right things this summer. Whether that leads to him earning the starting job or not is up to Steichen but Richardson has put in the work, that's for sure. Hopefully it pays off for him and the organization that drafted him.