Backup quarterback Anthony Richardson told reporters Wednesday he has not withdrawn his February trade request, yet he will continue to practice and play in the preseason. The 23‑year‑old, ninth‑overall pick in 2023, said he feels an obligation to stay healthy and ready for any snap, a stance that could shift Indianapolis’ roster calculus. His dual‑threat skill set still intrigues scouts across the league.
Richardson’s NFL journey and why his name still matters
Richardson entered the NFL after a meteoric rise at the University of Florida, where he amassed 2,830 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 1,025 rushing yards in his senior season. His 6‑foot‑5 frame, 240‑pound frame, and 4.5‑second 40‑yard dash time made him the prototypical modern quarterback—able to extend plays with his arm and turn runs into explosive gains. The Indianapolis Colts selected him ninth overall in the 2023 draft, trading up from the 12th spot and giving up a 2024 third‑round pick and a 2025 second‑round pick to secure the Florida star.
His rookie year was a classic developmental arc: 1,021 passing yards, 6 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and 345 rushing yards in limited snaps behind veteran starter Matt Ryan. In 2024, after Ryan’s retirement, Richardson earned the starting role but suffered a torn ACL in Week 7, truncating a season that showed flashes of brilliance—most notably a 312‑yard, 3‑TD performance against the Detroit Lions before the injury. The Colts’ medical staff cleared him for full participation in the 2025 offseason, but the lingering perception that he is still a work‑in‑progress has kept him behind the new starter, Mason Fine, a 2025 second‑round pick from Boise State who impressed in limited action with a 68% completion rate and a 5.2 passer rating per snap.
How Richardson’s stance reshapes the Colts’ offseason roadmap
Anthony Richardson’s refusal to rescind the request signals lingering frustration with his role, but his willingness to compete shows professionalism that the front office cannot ignore. Bleacher Report notes his comment that he is “still on this team regardless,” underscoring a desire to earn reps while his trade value is assessed.
The Colts entered the 2026 offseason with a $215 million salary‑cap ceiling, $12 million of which is guaranteed to Richardson for the upcoming season. That figure represents roughly 7% of the total cap and is modest compared to the $35 million guaranteed to starting quarterback Mason Fine. Because the contract is front‑loaded—$5 million guaranteed in 2026, $4 million in 2027, and the remainder spread over the final two years—the team can move Richardson without incurring a dead‑money hit larger than $2 million, a sweet spot for a franchise seeking flexibility.
General Manager Chris Ballard, who has built Indianapolis around aggressive draft maneuvering since 2020, now faces a decision matrix that includes three distinct pathways: (1) retain Richardson as a developmental backup, (2) package him with a 2026 fourth‑round pick to acquire a proven veteran quarterback, or (3) flip him for multiple mid‑round picks to bolster depth on the offensive line and secondary—positions the Colts identified as priority upgrades in the 2026 scouting reports.
Key takeaways from Richardson’s latest interview
In the video interview, Richardson said, “I’ve got an obligation to this team to come out here and play and perform, be ready to play if they need me. I’m just trying to make sure I’m getting healthy, keeping everything up there in the mind sharp.”. He added that the “trade stuff” remains a separate issue, hinting that negotiations are still ongoing behind the scenes. The interview also revealed a deeper strategic angle: Richardson acknowledged that his presence in practice forces the coaching staff to allocate snap counts to a quarterback with a unique mobility profile, thereby providing Mason Fine with fewer repetitions but also allowing the offense to test creative play‑designs that exploit Richardson’s ability to run read‑options and roll‑outs.
Coaching strategies and preseason implications
Offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, who previously engineered a high‑tempo, RPO‑heavy attack in Washington, has already hinted at using Richardson in a hybrid role during preseason. Steichen’s playbook contains three dedicated packages—”Option‑Flex,” “Play‑Action Deep,” and “Quarterback Run‑Pass”—designed to showcase Richardson’s dual‑threat nature while preserving Fine’s development in traditional drop‑back schemes. Analysts from Pro Football Focus project that Richardson could average 12 snap counts per preseason game if the Colts keep him on the 90‑man roster, a modest increase from the 5‑snap average he logged in 2025.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich expressed a pragmatic view: “If Anthony is on the field, we have to adjust our pass‑rush timing because he can scramble. That’s a valuable asset in practice, but we also need to make sure Mason gets enough reps to refine his pre‑snap reads.” The balance of snap distribution will be a key metric the staff uses when finalizing the 53‑man roster on August 28.
Impact on Indianapolis and what comes next
Analysts argue that keeping Richardson on the roster forces the Colts to allocate practice reps to a quarterback who may not start, potentially limiting development time for rookie Mason Fine. Conversely, the front office could leverage his trade chip to acquire a proven veteran or multiple draft picks, especially given the team’s need at cornerback and edge rusher. Colts.com indicated that coaches will evaluate his preseason performance before a final roster decision.
The market for a 2023 top‑10 quarterback who is still a year away from full‑time starter status is nuanced. The Miami Dolphins, currently thin at the quarterback position after Tua Tagovailoa’s injury, have expressed preliminary interest but lack the cap space to absorb his guarantee without a significant trade‑down. The Seattle Seahawks, rebuilding after a 2025 playoff miss, view Richardson as a potential long‑term answer but would likely require Indianapolis to include a 2026 third‑round pick to meet their valuation. A trade to a small‑market team could also trigger a conditional draft pick clause tied to Richardson’s playing time, a mechanism the Colts have used in past deals (e.g., the 2022 trade of Darius Leonard for a conditional 2024 fourth‑rounder).
Key Developments
- Richardson’s trade request was filed on February 12, 2026, shortly after the Colts announced a new offensive line overhaul.
- He has not appeared on the trade wire as of May 27, suggesting a quiet market.
- The Colts retained his contract through 2029, with $12 million guaranteed for 2026, giving Indianapolis flexibility to move him without a massive cap hit.
The numbers reveal that Richardson’s guaranteed money represents roughly 7% of the Colts’ total salary cap, a modest figure that makes him an attractive trade asset. Front‑office brass will weigh that against the risk of losing a high‑upside talent who could develop into a starter.
Historical comparisons and draft‑plan ramifications
When the New England Patriots traded third‑overall pick quarterback Jacoby Brissett in 2020, they turned a disgruntled backup into a 2022 fifth‑round pick and a 2023 third‑rounder that helped them secure a Pro Bowl offensive lineman. Similarly, the Dallas Cowboys moved 2022 first‑round pick Dak Prescott’s contract in 2024 for a 2025 first‑rounder and a 2026 second‑rounder, reshaping their rebuild timeline. If Indianapolis follows a comparable path, Richardson could become a catalyst for a draft‑day haul that addresses the Colts’ glaring needs at left tackle (where they drafted Caleb Farley in 2024 but lost him to injury) and at defensive end (where they have been thin after the departure of DeForest Buckner in free agency).
Should the Colts retain Richardson, the 2026 draft board will likely shift left‑guard and cornerback up the priority list, because the team will have a quarterback with a high ceiling already under contract, allowing them to focus on surrounding talent rather than scrambling for a quarterback in the later rounds.
Expert analysis
Former NFL analyst and former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning weighed in on ESPN’s “NFL Live” on May 26: “Anthony has the raw tools to be a starter, but the key is consistency. If Indianapolis can keep him around, they get a practice weapon and a potential future starter. If they move him, they have to make sure they get enough value—otherwise they’re just giving up a high‑upside player for a pick that may never pan out.”
Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. added on his podcast that the “trade request” may be a negotiating tactic rather than a genuine desire to leave. He noted that quarterbacks with a 6.5‑year, $135 million contract structure—like Richardson—often become trade bait for teams looking to offload cap commitments while still retaining a high ceiling.
Statistically, Richardson’s 2025 preseason ratings from Pro Football Focus (PPG 73.2) placed him in the top 15 quarterbacks, despite limited reps. His college 2022 season, where he posted a 12.1 yards‑per‑carry average on designed runs, remains a benchmark for his upside. If he can translate even half of that productivity to the NFL, the Colts could see a 4,000‑yard passing season and 800‑yard rushing season within two years—a dual‑threat rarity since Cam Newton’s 2015 campaign.
What to watch in the preseason
The Colts will host three preseason games: a July 30 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, an August 6 contest versus the Cleveland Browns, and a final August 15 game versus the New England Patriots. Key indicators to monitor will be Richardson’s pass‑efficiency (completion percentage, interception rate) and his RPO success rate (percentage of designed runs that result in a gain of 5+ yards). Additionally, the coaching staff’s snap‑allocation ratio—Richardson versus Fine—will reveal whether Indianapolis is positioning him as a trade asset (more reps = higher market visibility) or as a developmental backup (limited reps, focus on Fine).
In summary, Anthony Richardson’s decision to stay with the Colts through the preseason, while refusing to rescind his trade request, creates a multi‑layered strategic puzzle. It forces the front office to balance cap flexibility, draft capital, and on‑field development; it challenges the coaching staff to integrate a dual‑threat quarterback into a system already anchored by a younger starter; and it offers the league a case study in how high‑profile trade requests can reshape a franchise’s long‑term planning.
Did Anthony Richardson officially file a trade request?
Yes, Richardson filed a formal trade request on February 12, 2026, as reported by Bleacher Report, and he has not rescinded it as of late May.
What financial impact would a trade have on the Colts?
Because his contract includes $12 million guaranteed for the 2026 season, trading him would likely involve a modest dead‑money charge, freeing up cap space for other positions.
How might Richardson’s situation affect the Colts’ 2026 draft strategy?
If Indianapolis moves Richardson, the team could acquire additional mid‑round picks to address depth on the offensive line, defensive backfield, or package for a higher‑round selection, reshaping their draft board.
