NFL insider drops clear-cut reasoning Colts want to break from Anthony Richardson

The buzz around Anthony Richardson's future status with the Indianapolis Colts has remained one of the NFL's most talked-about storylines in the last two weeks leading up to free agency beginning on March 11. The Colts, of course, have many free agents of their own, and a couple whom they intend to re-sign. 

Richards, however, is not a free agent, but could find his way out of Indianapolis via a trade, and considering that the latest out of Indy is that the two-year quarterback was granted permission to seek a trade, it's looking more likely than not that Richardson will move on this summer. 

Still, it's been a strange partnership between the team and quarterback — injuries playing a role, of course. The talent and skillset are inevitably there in Richardson, but the Colts also appear dead set on Daniel Jones as their quarterback, leaving Richardson in limbo. NFL insider Tom Pelissero recently broke down the drama while at the combine last week, shedding light on the situation.

Anthony Richardson has no path to be the starter with Indianapolis Colts

Injuries and medical issues aside, Richardson has had some head-scratching moments in his short tenure with the Colts that would make most fans shake their heads, questioning if he is ready to lead an NFL team as their No. 1 quarterback. 

Richardson's injuries opened the door wide for Jones, who, over the last two years, also needed a change of scenery, and while it's still early, it has benefited the former New York Giants quarterback. This could be exactly what Richardson needs, and if the Colts do indeed trade him, it might help Richardson more than harm him. 

According to Pelissro, during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show at the combine in Indianapolis, he explained that Richardson's ongoing medical issues played a role in the current situation, but also cited another reason the Colts have decided to entertain trading away their former first-round draft pick.

"Everything the Colts have said publicly is he's continuing to progress," Pelissero said regarding Richardson's injury recovery. "He's been able to practice a little, but it's one thing saying you can get back on the field or do conditioning and throw the ball around, it's completely different to say, can you go play quarterback at a high level. It's also the reality that Anthony Richardson knows he has no path to be the starter in Indianapolis again."

Richardson's future as an NFL starting quarterback will almost certainly not be with the Colts, but whether he has an opportunity out there in general is also a burning question. Right now, it's hard to imagine any team that trades for Richardson will be comfortable immediately sliding him under center as their starting quarterback. 

He will most likely be brought in as a backup and be forced to work his way up from there. Is Richardson's NFL career dead? No. The NFL has seen far too many first-rounders fall out with their first team and then move on elsewhere for a second opportunity, and sometimes a third. 

Richardson needs to re-evaluate himself and his approach to playing quarterback at a high level before he can earn anything that resembles a starter's role. The only question is, where will he be able to do that, and will he?