Steelers, Vikings and Jets could have interest in Colts trade candidate

Steelers, Vikings and Jets could have interest in Colts trade candidate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets are three teams that could make a play for a quarterback before the end of the offseason.

In Pittsburgh, it remains unclear if Aaron Rodgers is going to come back. While that has been the expectation, it's futile to write Rodgers' name in pen in the Steelers starting lineup because of how unpredictable he can be.

Should Rodgers decide to hang up his cleats, the Steelers would need more competition for a room that includes Will Howard and Mason Rudolph.

The Jets traded for Geno Smith to be their starter in 2026, but barring a selection of a quarterback in a weak draft class, they don't have any semblance of long-term hope for the most important position in the NFL.

In Minnesota, the Vikings signed Kyler Murray, who will now compete with J.J. McCarthy, but if the former wins that competition, they could move McCarthy, which would leave Minnesota in need of a backup quarterback.

Anthony Richardson is a real trade candidate

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

It has been reported that Richardson and the Colts have agreed to part ways via trade, but there hasn't been any movement thus far.

However, Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut still believes Richardson will get dealt, and quite possibly during the 2026 NFL draft.

The Indianapolis Colts are all-in on Daniel Jones, even coming off Achilles surgery. That seems like a massive gamble to take, especially with the head coach and general manager both on the hot seat in 2026, but it’s the path this franchise chose. It’s time for the organization to do the right thing and trade Anthony Richardson in what is effectively a contract year for him. Richardson obviously should land somewhere that can focus on developing him behind the scenes, only bringing him onto the field to utilize his athleticism or in case of an injury. A fresh start is in everyone’s best interest.

Richardson's career has been a disaster, with the former No. 4 overall pick's tenure in Indianapolis marred by both injury and ineffective play over three seasons.

But he's still just 23 years old and possess an electric skillset that could be unleashed in the right situation.

Why Vikings are the best fit for Richardson

While the Vikings might not offer the clearest path to a starting job for the Florida product, they remain the best fit.

That's because head coach Kevin O'Connell has already shown he can develop a quarterback and get the best out of them. You need not look any further than Sam Darnold, who became a Super Bowl-winning signal-caller after reviving his once lackluster career in Minnesota.

We'd also be remiss if we didn't mention Daniel Jones, who joined the Vikings for a brief period in 2024 before reviving his own career in 2025 with the Colts.

Even if the Vikings keep McCarthy and have Murray starting, Richardson can still benefit from a year under O'Connell, and he could possibly be in line to have a chance to start in 2027 if the Murray experiment fails.