In a major offseason move, the Indianapolis Colts gave quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. permission to explore other teams.
Although the Colts still hold the player’s contractual rights, the authorization to seek a trade facilitates the departure process and helps define the future of both parties before the start of next season. Shortly after the announcement of this decision, Robert Griffin III made it clear which team should pursue the young QB.
Robert Griffin III Says Anthony Richardson Sr. Should Play for the Los Angeles Rams
In a social media post, the former Pro Bowl QB said that “there is no better place than the Los Angeles Rams” for Richardson to develop as a more mature player in the NFL. Griffin III assessed that the youngster would be a good backup for Matthew Stafford.
With Thursday’s announcement, Richardson’s agent can now call 31 other teams to see who offers the best contract and who is willing to send draft picks to the Colts in exchange for him, as the franchise has decided to continue betting on veteran Daniel Jones as its permanent starter.
The young QB suffered an unusual injury to his orbital bone, which further complicated his availability, creating uncertainty about his vision and full recovery.
The Indianapolis Colts have given Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade.
Richardson needs time to develop. No better place to do that than with the LA Rams with an established Hall of Fame starter in Matthew Stafford. He needs his Sam Darnold reset year.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 26, 2026
Another important factor in this situation is that the Colts are more comfortable with developing other names on the roster, such as Riley Leonard, to fill the QB2 role.
Understanding Why the Rams Would Be Ideal for Richardson
The Rams appear to be the main destination at this point, given that Richardson would benefit from a system that can hone his physical skills. In addition, Stafford, who has confirmed that he will play the 2026 season, is 38 years old and nearing retirement.
Signing Richardson now would allow the young player to spend an entire season learning from Stafford (who ranks No. 6 in the PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric with a B grade) and head coach Sean McVay without the pressure to deliver immediate results.
Finally, cost-effectiveness also appears to be a positive factor at this point. As the Indianapolis franchise has already initiated his departure and Richardson has had accuracy and injury issues, the QB’s market value has fallen, and some analysts estimate he could be acquired for mid-draft picks (such as a 4th or 5th-round pick).
