Heading into the 2025 offseason, Indianapolis General Manager Chris Ballard has made it extremely clear that Anthony Richardson will have to compete to keep his starting quarterback job. Given Richardson’s troubling injury history and inconsistent performance, the Colts need to explore other options at the most important position in football, especially with former backup Joe Flacco’s contract expiring.
"It's gotta be the right guy to create real competition. But we want to create real competition. I think it's good for the team, I think it's good for Anthony… It'll be open. And of course, it's got to be somebody that can really challenge from a production standpoint"Chris Ballard
The Indianapolis front office will consider multiple approaches to acquire another QB, including a trade or the draft. That being said, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is reporting that four veteran free agents are on Ballard’s radar: Daniel Jones, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Jacoby Brissett. Each of these contenders brings something different to the table, so let’s evaluate the field.
4. Trey Lance
Of all the names mentioned in the ESPN report, Lance is by far the most unproven option. He dazzled NFL scouts during North Dakota State's 2020 FCS Championship run — his one and only full season as a starter in college. Lance was then drafted No. 3 overall by the 49ers in 2021, but the surprise emergence of Brock Purdy eventually squeezed him out of San Francisco. The 24-year-old spent the last two seasons as Dallas’ third-string QB.
Lance shares some ironic similarities with Richardson. Both are athletic dual-threat QBs with major accuracy issues and limited playing experience. While Lance could be a dark horse candidate, the Colts are likely looking for much more from their new QB. Realistically, it’s hard to imagine that a player with five NFL starts in four years could become the face of the franchise.
3. Jacoby Brissett
Indianapolis fans should be very familiar with Brissett, who was on the Colts’ roster from 2017 to 2020. Since leaving the team, Brissett has signed four consecutive one-year deals as he looks for a more permanent home. He entered the 2024 regular season as the Patriots’ starter before being benched in favor of rookie Drake Maye in Week 6.
Although Brissett is coming off a rough year, it’s hard to criticize him too much, considering the horrible state of New England’s offense. The nine-year veteran might be a short-term upgrade over Richardson if he returns to Indianapolis, but his upside is limited. At 32 years old and past his prime, Brissett is best suited to be a veteran mentor behind Richardson — à la Joe Flacco — rather than a true competitor.
2. Daniel Jones
In six seasons with the New York Giants, Jones was a polarizing figure. He had a few rough years before and after a breakout 2022 campaign that singlehandedly earned him a $160 million extension. Unfortunately, Jones never managed to replecate that success and ultimately parted ways with the Giants in November.
Jones may not be the most exciting option, but his resume is arguably better than any of his peers on this list. He’s the only one who has thrown for over 3,000 yards twice, completed at least 60% of his passes every year, or won a playoff game. Even though he’s had an up-and-down career, Jones’ highs have been respectable, and his lows can be at least partially attributed to New York’s organizational dysfunction.
According to Fowler, Jones’ name has been linked to Indianapolis more than once, suggesting Ballard may be leaning toward the former 2019 No. 6 overall pick. That shouldn’t be a surprise since Jones checks a lot of boxes, given his past production. Unlike Brissett and Lance, he can be “real competition” for Richardson.
1. Justin Fields
There’s no denying that Fields flashed plenty of potential throughout his three-year tenure in Chicago, as well as the beginning of last season in Pittsburgh. However, he has yet to earn a long-term commitment from an NFL team. The Bears traded him away after they won the 2024 'Caleb Williams' sweepstakes, while the Steelers may opt to continue riding Russell Wilson.
Simply put, Fields is a dynamic playmaker who possesses a unique combination of elite athleticism and arm talent. The former Ohio State standout can make any throw imaginable while also being a 1,000-yard rusher. On top of that, his dual-threat skillset should make him a perfect fit in Shane Steichen’s offensive system which, of course, turned Jalen Hurts into a star.
Although there are legitimate concerns with Fields’ awareness and decision-making, we have to remember that he’s still only 25 years old. Since he entered the league, Fields has increased his completion rate, touchdown-to-interception ratio, and passing rating every year. If he keeps improving at this rate, his ceiling will be sky-high.
In many ways, Fields is a more reliable, accurate, and durable version of Richardson. The idea of that type of young, raw talent being available on the market would be enticing for any QB-needy team. Compared to the alternatives above, Fields should clearly be Ballard’s priority.