It's openly known that the Indianapolis Colts are looking for someone to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback position - but it's also known that, for now, Richardson will remain their presumptive QB1. For free agent quarterbacks, that could potentially be good news, especially for backups who want to find a place where they could possibly be promoted to a starter.
Though there have been many names thrown around as possibilities, Justin Fields has been considered one of the most promising. He's a good playmaker who is athletic and has good arm strength, and - like Richardson - is a dual threat, able to run as well as he can throw. It would have made him a natural fit for head coach Shane Steichen's offense, but a new report from ESPN's Adam Schefter indicates that Fields isn't interested in remaining with his current team - the Pittsburgh Steelers - unless they're willing to offer him the QB1 spot.
This insinuates that Fields may not be open to signing with the Colts, either, if he can't be guaranteed the starting job. Instead, it appears that Fields is most likely to end up with... the New York Jets.
There is a feeling that Justin Fields will ultimately land with the #Jets, according to league sources, though nothing is done yet.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) March 10, 2025
Still can't rule out a surprise team swooping in or the Steelers changing course — buzz is for Aaron Rodgers to Pitt — but the Jets have a good…
This had already been rumored, that Fields would leave the Steelers for the Jets, but it's sure to be a blow to any Colts fans hoping he might land in Indianapolis. Richardson does seem to be doing all he can to improve in the offseason, including working with none other than Josh Allen himself, but if it's not enough, the Colts need to have someone ready to take over - and become their new franchise QB. This is an issue that has plagued the Colts since losing Andrew Luck, and general manager Chris Ballard has overseen a carousel of quarterbacks that seems never-ending. Fields could have been the future in Indy, but was he ever even given a shot?
After all, it's a well-known fact that Ballard is stingy in free agency, and his lack of action on the first day of open negotiations is proving that not much has changed. Did he put in any kind of decent effort to land Fields, or is it all business as usual with Ballard?
Only time will tell.