Anthony Richardson Looks to Pursue Trade Away From Colts
Anthony Richardson is looking to leave Indianapolis with the Colts’ permission.
The former Florida quarterback and his agent, Deiric Jackson, have received the green light from the Colts to seek a trade, NFL reporter Stephen Holder announced Thursday. The Colts selected Richardson with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft following his standout performance for the Gators in 2022. After he passed for over 2,500 yards and scored 17 touchdowns in his final season at Florida, the Colts looked to develop him as their starting quarterback.
However, his NFL career hasn’t panned out as the team and fans expected. Injuries have haunted Richardson throughout the past three seasons, keeping him limited at practice and benched at games.
As a rookie, Richardson suffered an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, ending his season early in Week 5. He then missed four games in 2024 due to other injuries, losing his starting spot to Daniel Jones as the 2025 season began.
In Week 6 of the 2025 season, the quarterback fractured his right orbital bone with a resistance band in a fluke pregame warmup incident, landing him on the injured reserve for two months. With limited vision in his injured eye, Richardson was allowed to resume practicing in December.
When Richardson has been able to play, there are glimmers of the talent he demonstrated at Florida. In the 2024 season, he established himself as a reliable runner, rushing for 499 yards in 11 games. However, the quarterback struggled with accuracy, throwing 12 interceptions in that same season and only completing 50.6% of passes in three seasons.
Now, at 23 years old, Richardson is seeking a fresh start. His vision has improved since his 2025 injury, and he still has one year left on his rookie contract. His deal includes a $1.145 million base salary and a $4.24 million roster bonus for the 2026 season. The team he moves to will take on that payment, unless the Colts provide part of the funds to advance the trade.
As trade talks begin, it’s not yet clear which teams may be interested in Richardson. Trading in the offseason gives the quarterback ample time to practice and establish himself with a new team.
This trade could be a pivotal moment in determining the future of Anthony Richardson’s career. After three rocky seasons in Indianapolis, a new environment may be what he needs to excel and achieve the NFL success that was expected of him years ago.
Category: NFL, University of Florida
