The Indianapolis Colts have signaled a potential shake-up surrounding Anthony Richardson at QB this past Tuesday.
According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Colts general manager, Chris Ballard, announced the team’s plan to hold an open quarterback competition this past Tuesday.
Ballard also confirmed the Colts’ intention to add another quarterback to its roster this offseason, despite Richardson still being the current starting quarterback for the Colts. The only other quarterback the Colts have from 2024 on contract is Jason Bean.
Ballard also signaled his plan for a “blank slate” approach that the Colts will take as they pursue an additional quarterback. Ballard’s noted intentions are according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan.
The Anthony Richardson Issue
The Colts made an aggressive selection in the 2023 draft when drafting Richardson as the 4th overall pick. Since then, Richardson has played through injuries in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, limiting his ability to play a full season under center for the Colts.
Richardson played 11 games this past 2024 season which contributed to, yet again, another mediocre Colts season not featuring a post-season appearance.
In the past few years, the Colts quarterback situation has featured various brief stints by veteran quarterbacks. In 2023, it was Gardner Minshew suiting up at quarterback, and just now in 2024, Joe Flacco gave it his best shot at the tail end of his career. Who could forget in 2022 when it was Nick Foles’ and Matt Ryan’s turn? 2021 was Carson Wentz’s time as a Colt. Finally, 2020 was Philips Rivers’ farewell tour as an NFL quarterback (featuring him suited up in a Colts Uniform).
Granted, the Colts may not intentionally be trying to form a pattern post-2020 with how their quarterback situation plays out. However, it wouldn’t be exactly shocking if the Colts went in on another veteran quarterback this season as a one-year rental. Especially, if there’s looming concern that Richardson may not be able to complete an entire season.
The Potential Quarterback Candidates That May Help the Colts Fill Their Quarterback Room
Given Ballard’s recent remarks and past concern over Richardson’s health, there exists an inherent degree of volatility in how the quarterback depth chart may look for the Colts in the 2025 season.
A situation similar to this past year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where Russell Wilson and Justin Fields battled for QB one throughout the season, comes to mind. The Colts may find that signing a veteran quarterback with a history of success in the NFL could cause an interesting starting quarterback battle in Indianapolis.
Potential starting quarterback-tier candidates that could be a match for the Colts include free agents Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rodgers.
Aside from free agents, quarterback Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams has permission to seek a trade this offseason.
Notably, of all the previously mentioned quarterbacks (aside from Justin Fields) none of them had a worse QBR rating in 2024 than Anthony Richardson. The quarterback closest to Richardson in rating was Rogers, whose QBR was at 48 vs. Richardson’s at 47.4.
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