3 reasons to start Joe Flacco (and 3 reasons to back Anthony Richardson)

As 2023 fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson continues to battle injury and accuracy concerns, there is an argument that Indianapolis should name Joe Flacco as the full-time starting quarterback. Internally, head coach Shane Steichen appears committed to Richardson, but fans and the media are still debating.

While both players have had impressive highlights this year, neither option is perfect. Richardson is a high-risk, high-reward enigma and Flacco is a reliable, but temporary, solution. There are pros and cons to either candidate, so let’s consider the case for each. 

Why should Joe Flacco start?

1. A little accuracy goes a long way

We’ve only seen Flacco in action for seven quarters, but the gap between his throwing accuracy and Richardson’s is shocking. While Richardson has the lowest completion rate among starting quarterbacks (50.6%), just three passing touchdowns, and a league-high six interceptions, Flacco has completed 70% of his passes with five touchdowns and no picks so far. Flacco may not be the flashiest quarterback, but he can consistently connect with his receivers, which is a welcome change for Steichen. 

Last week, in his first start of the season, Flacco completed 33 of 44 pass attempts for 359 yards and three touchdowns. Richardson has never come close to any of those numbers in his young NFL career. Forget the individual stats though. Flacco’s impact on the Colts’ offense is obvious after Indianapolis scored a season-high 34 points against Jacksonville.

2. A veteran presence is exactly what the Colts need

The Colts are an embattled team right now with injuries across the offensive line as well as to elite weapons like Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor. On top of that, they have a vulnerable defense and a sophomore head coach who’s still getting up to speed.

Sitting at 2-3, Indianapolis has little room for error if they want to contend for a division title and stay in the AFC wildcard race. In this situation, a dependable signal-caller with 17 years of experience would be invaluable.

3. Richardson can still learn from the sidelines

Trusting Flacco in the immediate future doesn’t necessarily mean giving up on Richardson as the Colts’ franchise quarterback. There’s plenty of evidence that letting a young QB focus on improving in the background while a veteran handles first-string duties can be a positive step.

Legends like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers all went on to have Hall of Fame careers after beginning their journeys as backups. There’s no guarantee Richardson will have the same trajectory, but those icons are shining examples that taking a patient approach may actually be the best path forward for the 22-year-old.

Why should Anthony Richardson start?

1. Winning in the modern NFL requires a modern QB

The quarterback position has evolved a lot over the last two decades. As defenses get more athletic and complex, we’ve witnessed an influx of QBs with unique skillsets. The top QBs of today’s generation (e.g., Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and others) can throw the ball all over the field at different arm angles while also being legitimate running threats.

Equipped with elite size, strength, and speed, Richardson fits this dual-threat archetype, while Flacco is among the last of a dying breed of traditional pocket passers. It won’t be easy but Richardson can realistically improve his accuracy. However, Flacco will never run a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. That’s the type of special talent championship contenders seek out.

2. Flacco isn’t the future and Richardson needs game time to develop

At 39 years old, Flacco could likely only offer the Colts one or two years of starter-level play at most. Indianapolis went down this road not too long ago, cycling through multiple quarterbacks at the end of their careers (Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan), and the results were less than ideal.

After only starting one season in college, Richardson has a steep learning curve ahead of him but live, in-game reps may help accelerate his development. The only way the Colts are going to find out if Richardson can handle the intensity and demands of the NFL is by seeing him do it on the field.

3. Long-term success is more important than short-term mediocrity

There’s a time for NFL teams to prioritize the present, but this is not that time for Indianapolis. If the Colts were only one piece away from competing for a Super Bowl (and the missing piece was an aging, above-average quarterback), then there would be more urgency to start Flacco.

In reality, this team has major holes on offense and the worst defense in the league. Flacco doesn’t turn them into contenders. Even if he is better than Richardson right now, Flacco isn’t good enough to justify sacrificing the long-term vision.

Given his physical gifts and high ceiling, Richardson is a worthwhile investment who could lead the Colts for the next 10+ years. Simply put, there’s no need to write Richardson off so soon — imagine if the franchise benched Peyton Manning after he threw the most interceptions ever by a rookie and won just three games in 1998.