Anthony Richardson requested a trade earlier this offseason, and that hasn't yet happened. Maybe the Indianapolis Colts want too much for him, or maybe few teams are actually offering anything. The quarterback obviously comes with risks, but one of those doesn't appear to be Richardson's personality.
In fact, the way the quarterback has handled himself after requesting a trade, and after being beaten out by Daniel Jones for QB1 duties ahead of last season, might be one reason that he stays in Indianapolis. General manager Chris Ballard has maintained that the quarterback is a good guy, but doubled down on that in his pre-draft press conference.
Ballard told the media that Richardson is "training" in Jacksonville, Florida, currently, while many other members of the team are participating in voluntary offseason workouts at Colts facilities. But the quarterback is a "great teammate, he’s a good guy, good person," and “if he was salty, we’d be talking a different story, but that’s not who (Richardson) is."
Chris Ballard sticks with Indianapolis Colts line about Anthony Richardson
Still, the situation is complicated. The quarterback obviously doesn't want to play for the Colts, likely because he is entering the final year of his rookie deal (assuming Indianapolis doesn't pick up his fifth-year option), and if he isn't playing, then that lessens how much he can command in free agency in 2027.
But Anthony Richardson also doesn't need to be starting for the Colts. In his three-year career, one in which he started quite a bit in 2023 and 2024 before hardly playing in 2025, he has more interceptions than touchdown passes, has been prone to fumbling, doesn't read defenses well at all, and has an atrocious quarterback rating of 67.8.
He probably doesn't need to be starting anywhere at this point, but trading him sends him to a team that would have to gamble that he is good enough in practice that the team re-signs him in hopes he can become starter quality. Had Richardson requested to be traded last offseason when Daniel Jones was signed, he'd be in a better spot.
Chris Ballard keeps up the company line about Anthony Richardson being a good guy, and that's meaningful to a degree. A prospective team doesn't want to acquire a locker room issue, of course.
But Ballard's assessment of Richardson's attitude might be tested in the 2026 season should the team not find a trade partner. The quarterback would probably be third on the depth chart behind Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard.
The general manager also said Richardson has "real value" and is "extremely talented." Those sound more like sales tactics, though. Teams can see the quarterback's raw physical skills versus his true production. He might get a chance, if Jones and Leonard get hurt (Jones again), to prove he can be a great person and a good quarterback next season with the Indianapolis Colts.
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