Anthony Richardson Sr. once seemed destined to be the next star quarterback in the NFL. The talented passer was a first-round pick out of Florida in the 2023 draft, but his time with the Indianapolis Colts hasn’t gone according to plan.
As a result, the team has reportedly given Richardson permission to seek a trade. One NFL insider believes there’s an NFC West team that would be a perfect fit for the young passer.
Cardinals Reporter Believes Anthony Richardson would be ‘Perfect’ for Arizona
Richardson only played in four games due to injury in his rookie season. Then, in 2024, Richardson underperformed, ending with more interceptions than touchdowns.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Richardson was set to battle veteran Daniel Jones for the starting job. Jones easily won the competition and went on to have his best run as an NFL passer, while Richardson only appeared in two games and dealt with more injuries.
It’s not surprising, then, that the Colts are willing to move on from the quarterback. Kyle Odegard, who has covered the Cardinals for over a decade, believes Richardson would be perfect for the team in 2026.
“He’s the perfect QB for the Cardinals,” Odegard said of Richardson. “Low-cost rental who will probably be bad, which nets them a high draft pick in 2027. And if he’s good, the ceiling is high.”
That’s not exactly the highest praise, but the logic is sound. If Richardson is bad, the Cardinals will have a top pick again in 2027, in what should be a better quarterback class.
If he performs well, though, the team could have a franchise quarterback for cheap who’s still just 23 years old.
He’s the perfect QB for the Cardinals. Low-cost rental who will probably be bad, which nets them a high draft pick in 2027. And if he’s good, the ceiling is high. https://t.co/0L4KOk6c4J
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) February 26, 2026
Of course, the Cardinals still have Kyler Murray on the roster. However, Murray played in just five games in 2025, and it’s possible the new coaching staff wants a fresh start. When healthy in 2025, Murray earned a mediocre 75.3 grade from PFSN’s QB Impact metric.
Murray signed a massive five-year, $230,500,000 contract extension with the Cardinals in 2022, and it will be hard to get out of that deal. Even if the Cardinals could find a trade partner, they’d have to eat over $17 million in dead money for the 2026 season.
Richardson is on a rookie contract, so he’d be a perfect option for the Cardinals if they’re cap-strapped by Murray.
Richardson Looking to Rejuvenate his Career
There should still be plenty of teams that believe in Richardson. The Florida product is a dynamic athlete who makes plays with his legs and has a huge arm. A change of scenery could help Richardson live up to his potential.
So far in the NFL, Richardson has thrown for 2,400 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The quarterback has also rushed for 634 yards and 10 scores, showing his ability to be a dual-threat.
If the Colts do trade Richardson, they likely won’t receive much in return. Injuries and inconsistency have tanked Richardson’s value, but some team may end up getting a steal.
