The Indianapolis Colts have a large number of questions to find answers to this offseason. Will the team bring back quarterback Daniel Jones in free agency, for instance? That is likely the $100 million question? Another is, who will be Jones' backup?
The current options are ascending second-year pro Riley Leonard and ascending fourth-year player Anthony Richardson. Richardson was, of course, a first-round pick in 2023, and that means the team has a huge decision to make about him. The answer should be clear.
The Colts hold a fifth-year option on Richardson that must be made by May 1, carrying a price tag of around $20 million for 2027. If the team chooses not to use the option, AR5 will be a free agent next offseason. Indianapolis has no real reason to exercise the options, though, as Richardson has been an abject failure so far.
Indianapolis Colts have a huge decision to make on Anthony Richardson by May 1
The best option for the player, and possibly the team, is trading the quarterback. That would give him a fresh start elsewhere, and many times, a change of scenery is all a player needs to find success. Indy head coach Shane Steichen has proven he can design an excellent offense, but Richardson simply doesn't seem to be a good fit in it.
The QB is athletic and strong-armed, but inconsistent in both his decision-making and passing accuracy. In 17 starts, he has completed only 50.6 percent of his throws. That is an atrocious number in the current NFL. Even 60 percent is on the low end of what quarterbacks are expected to do, and Richardson doesn't seem capable of that.
He has tossed 11 touchdowns, but 13 interceptions. Again, not the kind of ratio one would expect from a quarterback chosen fourth overall in the draft and a product of Steichen's system. He's played so poorly that while picking up his fifth-year option shouldn't be made, Richardson also shouldn't be QB2.
That should be Leonard, who wasn't given much of a chance to play this season as a rookie, but when he did play, he was pretty good. In Week 18 against one of the better defenses in the NFL, the Houston Texans, the quarterback was 21 of 34 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns. While he did throw an interception, he also ran for another TD.
The biggest worry would be if the Indianapolis Colts don't re-sign Daniel Jones. The free agent options are thin, and Indy doesn't have a first-round draft pick. The battle for QB1 might come down to Leonard versus Richardson.