Anthony Richardson hasn't retracted his request to be traded, and the Indianapolis Colts are likely still going to listen to a solid offer for the quarterback. Because a trade didn't materialize over the last few months doesn't mean one won't. If one develops as FanSided's Wynston Wilcox suggests, Indy would have to say yes.
Wilcox's idea is that Indianapolis would send Richardson to the Green Bay Packers in return for two draft selections, a fourth-rounder in 2027 and a seventh-rounder in 2028. The Colts getting even a single fourth-round choice back for Richardson would be a win, and the added seventh-round selection is simply a bonus.
The Colts are in a bit of a pickle with the Richardson situation currently. Everyone in the NFL knows that the quarterback has asked to be traded, so general manager Chris Ballard's advantage in a deal is nonexistent.
Trade idea suggests the Indianapolis Colts moving Anthony Richardson to the Green Bay Packers
Indianapolis also doesn't really win by keeping the quarterback. He isn't going to start if Daniel Jones is healthy enough to play, and the Colts should elevate Riley Leonard to QB2, and make Richardson QB3. The team has no leverage in a move, so getting two draft picks from the Packers would be terrific.
Wilcox writes, "The Packers have to think about his trade for a couple of reasons. They need a respectable backup behind Jordan Love with his injury history...Green Bay has to realize that while Richardson feels like a lost cause, there’s a lot of value there for this team specifically... (head coach Matt) LaFleur knows how to develop quarterbacks, which is exactly what Richardson needs."
That last part is fairly damning toward Colts head coach Shane Steichen, though likely accidentally. Wilcox is still not completely wrong. LaFleur obviously has helped turn Jordan Love into a good quarterback. In Indianapolis, Steichen hasn't done that with Richardson, though Steichen did have success with Philip Rivers when both were with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The issue for any team that might want to acquire Richardson, including the Green Bay Packers, if Wilcox's proposal has any basis in what could actually transpire, is that the new team would only have one season to watch the quarterback in practice to try to decide on whether they want to keep Richardson around for much longer.
No team is probably going to add Richardson as an immediate starter. That would likely lead to immediate failure for all involved.
What's important to note is that any move involving Anthony Richardson would be better for his new team if the trade didn't happen until three days into training camp. After that, any team acquiring the QB would only have to pay him $1.1 million in 2026, an amount that many teams are probably OK with spending just to kick the proverbial tires on a player's potential.
No matter if or when a trade involving Richardson happens, the Indianapolis Colts should count themselves lucky if they get at least a fourth-round choice out of the move. The quarterback's play hasn't been truly worth that value.
Add us as a preferred source on Google