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Anthony Richardson
QB · IND

Anthony Richardson

Position QB
Team IND
Bye Week —
PPR Rank —

Anthony Richardson

NFL player. Position: QB. Team: IND (on trade block).

Quick Facts

  • Position: QB
  • Team: IND (Indianapolis Colts)
  • Draft: 2024 1st round, 4th overall
  • Status: Competing for backup role; potential trade candidate

2026 Outlook

Richardson came into the league with top-tier athleticism (perfect 10.0 RAS score, comparable to Cam Newton) but has struggled to translate that into on-field success. Through his first two seasons, he posted a career 50.6% completion rate, 67.8 passer rating, and a quarterback rating around 46—disappointingly low for a top-4 pick. He's only started 15 games at the NFL level following limited starting experience at Florida (24 games). Behind Daniel Jones, Richardson competes with Riley Leonard for the backup QB role with the Colts, though his limited time under center means he hasn't received a real opportunity to develop (per Panthers tabbed as potential trade suitor for top-4 pick at QB).

Backup QB ranking: CBS Sports ranked the top 10 backup quarterback situations heading into 2026, and Richardson cracked the list at #10 despite ongoing competition with Leonard for the role. The ranking acknowledges Richardson's on-field shortcomings (2024 stats: 33rd in EPA per play, 17.6% of throws off-target, 8 TDs/12 INTs in 11 starts) but credits his big-play ability and rushing upside for the spot. Richardson led the NFL in yards per completion in 2024 despite low completion volume, showing elite arm talent. His rushing ability stands out—18% explosive rush rate from 2023-24, third in the NFL behind Drake Maye and Kyler Murray. CBS analysts note Richardson remains "a great unknown": he could have a Malik Willis-esque rebirth if given a fresh opportunity, or could be a disaster in a pinch. The backup ranking reflects his ceiling (high-upside arm talent, elite athleticism) rather than his current floor (accuracy issues, injury history, scheme confusion) (per CBS Sports: Anthony Richardson ranks among NFL's top 10 backup quarterback situations in 2026).

A critical development looms: Richardson is due a $4.2M roster bonus on the third day of training camp in August. If the Colts hold him through that date, any team acquiring him post-bonus would only owe him $1.1M for the entire 2026 season—a low-risk, high-reward scenario that could drive late-summer trades. This deadline may force the Colts' hand if they're unsure about Richardson's path forward (per CBS Sports: Anthony Richardson ranks among NFL's top 10 backup quarterback situations in 2026).

Minicamp update (June 2026): Richardson is splitting first-team repetitions with Riley Leonard during minicamp, with Daniel Jones working his way back from injury. The Colts remain committed to Jones as the projected starter, but Richardson's role as backup competitor is more secure than it appeared in spring. His participation level signals the team views him as a genuine option if Jones' Achilles recovery falters (per Colts Depth Chart After Minicamp).

Post-draft outlook (April 30): As the Colts finalize their 2026 roster after the draft, the big question remains whether Richardson will be traded. His status on the depth chart puts him in direct competition with Riley Leonard for the backup role behind Daniel Jones (per Updated Colts' depth chart on offense after 2026 NFL draft - Yahoo Sports).

Trade speculation is mounting heading into 2026. The Carolina Panthers have been identified as a potential landing spot, with analysts suggesting Carolina would be willing to part with a Day 3 pick to take a chance on his upside under new coaching (per Panthers tabbed as potential trade suitor for top-4 pick at QB). Other potential suitors include Arizona, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and possibly others seeking a high-upside project QB. If Richardson gets a genuine opportunity with a new team, his athleticism and arm talent could still develop—but he remains unproven and faces an uphill battle to justify his draft pedigree.

Dynasty buy-low opportunity: Richardson's dynasty value has crumbled to historic lows after two disappointing seasons, creating an asymmetric risk-reward scenario for shrewd managers. While his play on tape has been alarming—sub-30% Big Time Throw rate, accuracy concerns that linger despite rare arm talent, and an inability to operate consistently within structure—his acquisition cost has plummeted accordingly. Dynasty managers can now buy Richardson's uncertainty, athleticism, and potential for a fraction of his original premium. The bet isn't that he becomes a franchise QB; it's that another organization or the Colts themselves gives him another chance, and that even a temporary starting opportunity (via injury or poor performance from his predecessor) can spike his value significantly before realistic expectations reset (per Backup QBs Worth Stashing in Dynasty Before Training Camp). His rushing ability (50+ yards in his limited rookie action) provides fantasy-friendly floor upside if he ever gets extended reps.

Among quarterbacks with at least 350 dropbacks from 2023-24, Richardson ranked 41st out of 43 in PFF passing grade (56.3), raising durability questions. However, his rare combination of size, arm talent, and rushing ability means he'll likely continue to get multiple opportunities around the league—the key question is whether the next organization can unlock what the Colts and Jaguars have not (per Backup QBs Worth Stashing in Dynasty Before Training Camp).

Trade deadline (August 22): As the NFL's 53-man roster cutoff approaches, Richardson remains a trade candidate. Teams including Green Bay, Minnesota, and Miami have reportedly shown interest in acquiring him as a potential backup project. The Colts granted him permission to seek a trade in the offseason, and his status remains fluid heading into the final roster decisions (per 6 NFL QBs who could be traded or released before Week 1 of 2026 season).

August 26-28 update — Trade candidate heading into cutdown: Richardson continues to attract trade interest as multiple teams seek backup QB help. Sports Illustrated (Aug 28) highlighted Richardson as one of five possible trade candidates as the NFL approaches roster deadline, noting his preseason finale against Detroit on Saturday would serve as a "final showcase for the trade market." Despite his struggles, his athleticism continues to generate interest from teams willing to invest in a reclamation project. Possible landing spots include the Panthers (identified as a potential suitor in SI piece), Bills, and other teams needing QB depth. His athleticism (5.5 yards-per-carry average with 10 rushing TDs in first two seasons) and rare combination of size/arm talent remain attractive to teams willing to give him another chance (per Anthony Richardson, Joey Porter Jr. among potential trade candidates with NFL cutdown day looming, Five Players Who Could Still Be Traded Ahead of the 2026 NFL Season - Sports Illustrated]).

Preseason Week 3 performance vs. Lions (Aug 29): Richardson went 2-for-3 passing in his third preseason appearance, again limited in snaps in what shapes as his final preseason audition before roster cutdown. Despite the low volume, the action confirmed his backup role and readiness if called upon (per Lions at Indianapolis Colts, NFL preseason: Live updates).

Role / Depth Chart

Backup QB (IND). Competing with Riley Leonard for secondary role behind Daniel Jones. Status uncertain heading into training camp with potential for trade.

Injury Status

No injuries reported heading into 2026.

August 10 training camp update: Richardson is competing with Joe Leonard for the backup QB role. Struggles with snap handoffs have been noted—Head Coach Shane Steichen called these issues a "concentration" problem rather than a vision issue (Richardson fractured his orbital bone last year). Leonard and Richardson are going back-and-forth in the backup competition; Steichen emphasized that consistency will determine the winner. Richardson told reporters he wants to stay with the Colts but is focused on "being a winning piece" regardless of where he plays (per Colts QB Anthony Richardson - NFL.com).

Preseason Week 1 performance (Aug 14): Richardson started the Colts' preseason opener against Denver in a scheduled plan: he would start and play the whole first half, then Riley Leonard takes the second half. Richardson answered the call with his best professional performance yet. He completed 78.5% of his passes—his best completion percentage in any pro game—while averaging 8.8 yards per attempt. He also scored a rushing touchdown, adding dual-threat value. Richardson played 27 snaps, his most since Week 16 of the 2024 season. The performance demonstrated measurable accuracy improvement over his 2024 struggles and suggested coaching/system adjustments are helping him execute more cleanly. However, this was not a depth chart move but rather a pre-planned evaluation of both QB options by HC Shane Steichen. Riley Leonard took the second half and went 10-of-21 for 89 yards with an interception, losing the first-half battle to Richardson. (per Fantasy football takeaways from Thursday's 2026 NFL preseason Week 1 games - The Big Lead)

Accuracy crisis — NFL's worst in 11 years (CBS Sports, August 11): CBS Sports' deep dive on QB reclamations identifies Richardson's accuracy problem as historically severe and potentially unfixable. His 2024 adjusted accuracy of 60.2% ranked dead last among all QB seasons from 2015-25 with 200+ dropbacks—a 4.5-point gap separating him from the second-worst season in 11 years. The analysis compares Richardson to Josh Allen (64.7% as rookie, improved to 79.1% in his first elite season, a +14.4 point jump) and Lamar Jackson (66.7% rookie, improved to 75.9%, a +9.2 jump). Richardson would need roughly a 10-point improvement just to reach 70% adjusted accuracy—still below McCarthy's 71% from a season ranked in the 8th percentile overall. Critically, Allen and Jackson earned those improvements while starting regularly; Richardson now sits behind Daniel Jones with no clear path to meaningful reps. Historical precedent suggests accuracy improvements of this magnitude are extremely rare—only Allen and Jackson managed it in the last 11 seasons. The article concludes Richardson's physical gifts (6.8% big-time throw rate in 94th percentile, elite athleticism, elite sack avoidance at 89th percentile) will attract trade interest, but the accuracy ceiling question makes him the league's most concerning QB reclamation project. (per Can J.J. McCarthy and Anthony Richardson be saved? History offers a reason for hope --...)

Recent News

Open Questions

  • Will the Colts trade Anthony Richardson during training camp, and to which team?
  • Does Richardson get a real opportunity to develop, or continue as a low-volume backup?

Sources

Coaches shaping Anthony's role

Shane SteichenHead CoachJim Bob CooterOffensive CoordinatorAlex TanneyPassing Game CoordinatorChris HewittPass Game Coordinator / Secondary CoachCam TurnerQuarterbacksChris WattAssistant Offensive LineTony Sparano Jr.Offensive Line

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