The Indianapolis Colts have a make-or-break moment ahead in 2025. Depending on the kind of year Anthony Richardson has, the franchise might either lock him in as their quarterback of the future or get forced into a hard reset with a new name under center.
Last year, more consistent production from Richardson might have been the difference between making the playoffs and just missing out. But one analyst isn’t giving them much of a shot this time, instead signaling that a hard reset might be coming in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Anthony Richardson Under Pressure as Indianapolis Colts Eye Garrett Nussmeier in 2026 NFL Draft
The Colts finished last season with eight wins, a surprisingly strong year given expectations. But their starting quarterback, at least for the stretches he played, struggled badly, finishing 37th on PFSN’s QB+ metric.
The former No. 4 overall draft pick still has considerable room to grow. He remains one of the rawest prospects in recent NFL memory, with just 15 starts under his belt. The Colts tried to put him in a position to succeed, but the results have been inconsistent at best.
Bringing in Daniel Jones this offseason was reportedly a move to spark competition at quarterback, and hopefully push Richardson to improve. Through two years, though, Richardson has yet to complete even 60 percent of his passes. Last season’s mark of 47.7 percent was especially rough.
On top of that, he’s thrown just 11 touchdowns to 13 interceptions in his career. So it’s not a huge surprise that fans across the league are skeptical. The latest mock draft from PFSN is, too.
That mock has the Colts drafting at No. 7 overall and taking a quarterback. NFL Draft analyst Brentley Weissman says this is the perfect time to invest in the position again, especially with how deep the 2026 class looks.
His pick? LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who Weissman describes as someone who “could have been a first-round pick in this year’s draft.” In 2024, Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns.
#LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier (6-2, 200)
In-rhythm passer with clean footwork. Flexible arm to make standout completions. Confidently throws to spots with fearless anticipation. pic.twitter.com/JeaY6x7Yib
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) May 16, 2025
“With a strong 2025 season, he has a chance to go in the top ten,” Weissman said. “Nussmeier has solid size, accuracy and arm talent, but needs to refine his decision-making.”
The Colts have made the playoffs just twice in the past decade. Quarterback remains their biggest need. If Nussmeier can finally give them stability at the position, the rest of the roster might be good enough to make Indy a real playoff threat again.