The Indianapolis Colts made their intentions clear this week by signing Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88 million extension. That deal, worth up to $100 million with incentives and including $60 million guaranteed, locks Jones in as the franchise quarterback through 2027.
It also proves that Anthony Richardson Sr. has no future in Indianapolis. He is expected to be traded before the start of the season, and the Green Bay Packers have emerged as a potential destination for him.
Green Bay Is an Ideal Fit for Anthony Richardson
ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported the latest update on the Colts quarterback’s trade status and revealed that the Packers are “one particular team to monitor” for Richardson.
The timing tracks. Malik Willis signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins earlier this week, leaving the Packers without the reliable backup who helped them reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
Willis went 2-1 as a starter in Green Bay while completing 79.7% of his passes with six total touchdowns and zero interceptions. That production earned him a starting opportunity in Miami and left a gaping hole on Green Bay’s depth chart.
Update on Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who is available via trade. No deal is imminent, per multiple sources. There are interested teams, but the dust is still settling from free agency.
One particular team to monitor: the Green Bay Packers.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 14, 2026
The Packers proved they can rehabilitate a quarterback’s career. Willis arrived from Tennessee as a failed third-round pick with a 53% completion rate and no passing touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons. He left Green Bay as the most coveted free agent quarterback on the market.
Richardson needs that same kind of reset. The 23-year-old has completed just 50.6% of his passes for 2,400 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 17 career games. He lost the starting job to Jones last August and then suffered an orbital bone fracture during pregame warmups in Week 6, ending his season after just 14 snaps.
Packers Will Benefit Massively by Trading for Richardson
The Packers could acquire Richardson for a late Day 3 pick, possibly a fifth-rounder. His salary is manageable at roughly $5.5 million for 2026. Jordan Love has missed games due to injury in each of the last two seasons, but according to PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, Love finished 2025 as the fourth-best quarterback in the league with an impact score of 88.0. As a result, having a capable backup is crucial for Green Bay.
But there’s another angle here. If Matt LaFleur works the same magic with Richardson that he did with Willis, Green Bay could flip him for a better draft pick at the trade deadline or let him walk in free agency and collect a compensatory selection.
The Willis blueprint proved that a reclamation project can turn into an asset. Richardson still possesses the arm talent and athleticism that made him the fourth overall pick in 2023. His dual-threat ability mirrors what Willis brought to the offense, and the Packers know exactly how to use that skill set when Love goes down.
Green Bay won’t overpay given Richardson’s struggles and the fact that he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal. But if the price stays in the Day 3 range, the upside might be too good to ignore.
