The Indianapolis Colts drafted quarterback Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, but things have not gone as they had hoped.
Richardson showed flashes as a rookie, but injuries limited him to only four games in 2023. He really struggled in 2024, eventually getting benched for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. A former NFL scout is urging the Colts to cut bait after two seasons.
Former NFL Scout Suggests Colts Trade QB Anthony Richardson
John Middlekauff, now with The Volume, worked as an NFL scout and is now a prominent member of the NFL media landscape, and on his show “3 And Out”, he urges the Colts to trade Richardson.
A segment of his most recent episode detailed his advice for the Indianapolis Colts, and here is what he had to say.
“I would think about trading Richardson … Now, I don’t know what I could get… but could I trade Richardson to the Giants for their third-round pick? I would think long and hard about it.”
“I was pro-drafting Richardson, but I think we need to acknowledge that it’s probably not going to work.”
It would be a massive indictment of Richardson if the Colts gave up on him after only two years with the team, but Middlekauff is correct that the most likely scenario is that Richardson does not develop into an above-average starting quarterback.
For context, per PFSN’s QB+ metrics, Richardson was the third-worst quarterback in the NFL last year, with only Spencer Rattler and Deshaun Watson worse than him.
“The Colts are in a pickle at the end of Richardson’s second NFL season. Although he’s still a rookie in terms of games played (15), Indianapolis will face a decision on Richardson’s fifth-year option next offseason.”
“At this point, it seems extremely unlikely they pick it up, with Richardson grading out above just two other qualified quarterbacks this season. He missed Week 17 and 18 due to another injury and has played in less than 50% of games in the last two years.”
“The Colts have one more season to evaluate Richardson, but his poor play, combined with health concerns, doesn’t paint a positive picture.”
“The season-long numbers are a major concern for Richardson. Not many quarterbacks have a lower EPA/DB than his -0.13 (36th). He also ranks inside the bottom 10 in EPA/DB from a clean pocket (0.12; 30th) or when pressured (-0.53; 34th), and his 31.2% third-down conversion rate is 34th.”
“Richardson’s TD/INT rate is 0.7, and he has nearly as many rushing touchdowns this season (six) as he does passing (eight).”
So, while giving up too early if the Colts do decide to trade Richardson might seem like a mistake, a third-round pick might seem like a steal, depending on how the next year goes for him.
No way they take anything less than a 2nd Rd Pick for AR!!!