The Indianapolis Colts have decided that 15 games split over two seasons was all they needed to see from former No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson. Despite his huge arm and athletic talent, Shane Steichen has named former New York Giants project Daniel Jones as their Week 1 starting quarterback.
While Jones certainly doesn't have an ironclad grip on the starting quarterback job, Richardson's status as the savior who is going to make Indianapolis a perennial playoff team again has officially been lit on fire. By the time 2026 rolls around, Richardson might be playing somewhere else.
These three teams might be more patient than Shane Steichen and more willing to work around Richardson's skill set as a quarterback. Richardson could make the Colts look foolish if he stars with these three teams.
3 teams who could acquire Colts QB Anthony Richardson after Daniel Jones news
3. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers seem completely in on Bryce Young as their franchise quarterback, but they may need to bring in some serious competition in case the second half of the 2024 season was a fluke and the player who was benched after Week 2 is more representative of his overall talent level.
While the diminutive 5'10" Young makes his name on timing and accuracy, the 6'4" and 240-pound Richardson has a mortar tower of a right arm and will immediately challenge teams down the field more frequently than Young. That stylistic contrast could make Dave Canales wonder if the 2023 No. 4 pick should start over the No. 1 pick.
2. Los Angeles Rams
No one in this league is better at getting the most out of quarterbacks than Sean McVay, and even the great Matthew Stafford can't claim to have the same level of raw physical talent as Richardson. Can McVay be the one who fixes him?
Stafford is clearly on the back nine of his career, and the Rams may not be in a position to use a top pick in the NFL Draft on a possible replacement. If Richardson is unable to be a successful quarterback in McVay's offense, that might be the end of the line for him.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers will likely only be riding the Aaron Rodgers train for one more season. Mike Tomlin will need to reboot at quarterback once again after this season, and neither Mason Rudolph nor sixth-round rookie Will Howard looks like someone who could carry the torch.
Tomlin's pursuit of Justin Fields last year may show that he has a thing for younger quarterbacks with mobility and a strong arm, and Fields put together one of the best stretches of his career. Richardson needs to go to a smart offensive coordinator who believes in his skillset, and he may have that in Arthur Smith.