Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has not rescinded his request to be traded. Starting in August, it made more financial sense for another team to acquire him due to how his contract was structured. A new team would only have to pay Richardson $1.1 million in 2026.
If the QB is eventually dealt, could he follow the same path as former Indy wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and find success elsewhere? Possibly. A deal would make sense for the teams and the player.
The part that would hurt the most is if Richardson did discover himself in New York, the same as Mitchell. The wide receiver has only spent one-half of a season with the Jets, but on a per-game basis, he was far more impactful than he was a Colt.
Indianapolis Colts theoretically could send Anthony Richardson to the New York Jets, just as they did Adonai Mitchell
He clearly has talent, but Indy wasn't able to get the most out of him for some reason. One would have thought he would further wilt by playing in the huge city of New York (or right outside of the Big Apple in New Jersey), but he was quite good in the second half of last year, and he has had an excellent offseason by most accounts.
Richardson might have talent, too. He has loads of raw athleticism, sure, but as a professional football player, he hasn't done much. He might need a change of scenery just to improve. He has been lost with the Colts, but like Mitchell, maybe he could find his way with a new team.
Indianapolis Chris Ballard has said he isn't going to give the quarterback away, but at this point, any draft value would be better than keeping a player entering the final year of his contract on the roster, hoping he won't be forced to play. Daniel Jones is the starter, and Richardson is QB2 at best.
The Jets also don't appear to have a long-term quarterback on their roster, so kicking the proverbial tires on Richardson for a season would make sense. The team traded for Geno Smith, but he is in his late 30s. Cade Klubnik was chosen in the fourth round this year, but there is no guarantee he develops into a QB1.
Maybe Anthony Richardson never does either, though one wonders if he might mesh well with the feisty Smith, and that could help his growth. He needs something to help him be better. He has failed in his three seasons when he has been healthy enough to play. So far in 2026 training camp, his accuracy has not improved from previous years.
Getting any draft value for a player who has requested to be traded and will be a free agent next offseason is a good move. Maybe the player who would be a 2027 Day 3 draft pick, a selection the Indianapolis Colts would get for Richardson, would eventually be better value than the quarterback ever was or ever will be.
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