The Indianapolis Colts are changing their approach regarding quarterback Anthony Richardson after a disappointing season and a significant injury. They have declined to pick up his fifth-year contract option, indicating uncertainty about his future with the team.
While the Indianapolis Colts had a great season in 2025, quarterback Anthony Richardson did not. A raw talent who needs more in-game experience didnât even get a chance to touch the field while dealing with a fractured orbital bone suffered during pregame warmups.
It was a tough blow to not only the former first-round pick, but also to the Colts, who havenât quite signaled that theyâre ready to give up on the 23-year-old. But after declining to pick up Richardsonâs fifth-year contract option, itâs clear the Colts arenât willing to further commit to the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
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More recently, the Colts have been open to trading the cannon-armed, dual-threat QB. Those discussions were expected to heat up during the 2026 NFL Draft, when teams realized they wouldnât be able to land the QB prospect they coveted. Yet, here we are, two weeks after the draft, and Richardson is still a member of the Colts.
Now, ESPNâs NFL insider Adam Schefter has indicated that the team isnât eager to move on from Richardson, and that a trade could still occur later in training camp or even during the season if another teamâs QB suffers an injury.
âThere could be injuries, there could be a team that a quarterback struggles, there might be somebody whoâs willing to pay more for Anthony Richardson in August than they were in April prior to or during the NFL draft. And so, the Colts made the decision to hold onto the former high 1st-round draft pick and not deal him. And they figure theyâll move on with him on the roster and essentially address it later.â
The Colts declined Anthony Richardson's fifth-year option due to his lack of in-game experience and a disappointing season marked by injury.
Anthony Richardson suffered a fractured orbital bone during pregame warmups, which prevented him from playing.
The future of Anthony Richardson with the Colts is uncertain, especially after the team declined to commit further by not picking up his fifth-year option.
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Adam Schefter on Anthony Richardson trade
Weâve seen teams take this approach before. With how frequent injuries can be, and how quickly they can derail a season, thereâs always a possibility that the Colts could benefit from another franchiseâs downfalls later on. For now, they have a backup QB with star potential, which could even help Indianapolis as Daniel Jones works his way back from a torn Achilles.
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