Just three years after being selected No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Anthony Richardson has fallen out of favor with the Indianapolis Colts. In February, the two sides made it all but official, mutually agreeing to seek a trade.
As training camp approaches, here are three teams that could pursue the former No. 4 overall pick and provide him with a much-needed fresh start.
3 Teams That Could Trade for Anthony Richardson as Training Camps Approach
New York Jets
The Jets’ current quarterback room leaves a ton to be desired. Geno Smith is expected to be the Week 1 starter, but at 35 years of age, and set to earn just $3.3 million against the Jets’ cap next season, he almost certainly isn’t in New York’s long-term plans.
The long-term options behind Smith aren’t particularly inspiring either. 2026 fourth-round pick out of Clemson, Cade Klubnik is listed as the QB2 on ESPN’s depth chart. Meanwhile, Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe round out the room.
Undoubtedly, Richardson has more raw talent and upside than the Jets’ backup options. GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn could acquire Richardson relatively cheaply and offer him an opportunity to start later in the season (and potentially beyond) if things don’t work out with Smith.
Buffalo Bills
It goes without saying that Josh Allen, the 2024 MVP, is the Bills’ quarterback now and for years to come. The situation behind him, however, is far less certain. Kyle Allen, who has bounced around the league and served primarily as a backup in recent seasons, is currently listed as the primary understudy, while QB3 Shane Buechele, an undrafted free agent, has just 7 career completions.
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Simply put, if Allen were to ever miss time with an injury, the Bills would be in serious trouble. Pursuing Richardson, however, who is 8-7, as a starter in his career and can shift the momentum of a game on any single play, could very well fill that void for Buffalo.
As a prospect, Richardson also shared several similarities with Allen. Big-bodied, mobile quarterbacks with elite arm talent are few and far between. Buffalo would have the opportunity to either develop him into Allen’s long-term backup or rebuild his value and trade him down the line.
Baltimore Ravens
Much like the Bills, the Ravens also have a top-five quarterback who isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. When healthy, Lamar Jackson has been one of the most productive and accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history before the age of 30 (despite never reaching a Super Bowl). Notably, in 2024, Jackson ranked No. 1 in PFSN’s NFL Quarterback Impact Rankings.
Then again, staying healthy hasn’t always come easy for the two-time league MVP. From 2021–25, Jackson has missed a combined 16 contests.
Although Richardson has injury concerns of his own, he could provide valuable spot starts for this Ravens team. Additionally, OC Declan Doyle, formerly with the Bears, played a key role in Caleb Williams’ development. Now in line to call plays for the Ravens offense, he could have a similar impact on Richardson if the front office opts to go in that direction.
