The Minnesota Vikings traded quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the New York Giants on Monday, and that could have an effect on what the Indianapolis Colts do with Anthony Richardson. At minimum, the trade implies what general manager Chris Ballard would expect in return for Richardson.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the Giants are giving the Vikings a fifth-round pick in 2027 for a player who was the 10th overall selection in 2024. That is a brutal loss for Minnesota, as what New York is giving up is nowhere near the draft equivalent of what Minnesota spent to get McCarthy.
Not that it matters to Indianapolis so much. What does matter is whether Ballard is still thinking of trading Richardson, a quarterback who is expendable, as he is the backup to Daniel Jones, and Riley Leonard could fit the role of QB2; then the Indy GM should expect nothing better than a fifth-rounder.
With the Giants adding J.J. McCarthy, the Indianapolis Colts might be stuck with Anthony Richardson
Maybe Ballard doesn't want to make that move, but the team is likely going to lose Richardson next offseason anyway, as he is a free agent who will probably want to go somewhere that he has a real chance of becoming QB1. He does not have that path with the Colts.
But how many teams will want to take a chance on making a move for Richardson? The Giants were obviously one option, as they lost their starting quarterback, Jaxson Dart, to an injury earlier in the season. New York was left with veteran Jameis Winston at quarterback. McCarthy might not be a better option than Winston, but that remains to be seen.
Richardson and McCarthy also have the same kind of skill set. Both have good arm strength, though their accuracy is lacking at times, and both can make plays using their legs. In other words, an offensive fit would be rarer for a quarterback like Richardson or McCarthy. Now that the Giants are off the table, the Indianapolis Colts might be stuck with Anthony Richardson.
The hope is that Daniel Jones stays healthy, but he has had three seasons end early because of injury. If he is hurt, Richardson would take his place. That could be a good thing for Richardson, as it would be an audition for any team thinking of signing him in 2027 or trading for him.
The former seems more likely at this point, though, because one of the few teams that might have had interest in Richardson, the Giants, have added J.J. McCarthy. Ironically, the hope for Chris Ballard might be to keep Richardson while assuming he never plays another meaningful game for Indianapolis.
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