Will Colts' Anthony Richardson Sr. request a trade after latest benching?

Shortly after it was learned in March that the Indianapolis Colts planned to sign free-agent quarterback Daniel Jones, 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson Sr. insisted he had "no plans to seek a trade." 

It seems Richardson's mindset may have changed now that he has officially lost the Indianapolis starting job to Jones. 

"We have a lot to discuss," agent Deiric Jackson told Stephen Holder of ESPN regarding conversations Jackson plans to have with the Colts about Richardson's future. "Trust is a big factor, and that is, at best, questionable right now. Anthony came back and made the improvements in the areas he needed to improve. And by all accounts, he had a great camp."

Richardson has dealt with numerous injury setbacks and has started 15 of a possible 32 games as a pro. Additionally, he was benched for two weeks last fall after he temporarily removed himself from a contest because he was "tired." Subsequent stories noted that head coach Shane Steichen and others within the Colts wanted Richardson "to improve his game preparation and better understand the gravity of the job" at that time. 

More recently, Richardson was shut down from throwing on May 29 after he experienced pain in his surgically repaired shoulder. Earlier in August, he suffered a dislocated right pinkie when he failed to recognize pressure and took a massive hit in Indianapolis' preseason opener. 

As Holder and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted, the Colts don't have a proven backup option on the roster who could rise the depth chart if Richardson requests a trade. It also can't be ignored that Richardson likely wouldn't have all that much value if he became available so close to the start of the 2025 season. 

"It's hard to say -- the play and the injuries have been bad enough that it's a hard one, but if a team had a real need and since he has plenty of team control left [under contract until at least 2026], he should have something," an unnamed AFC executive responded when asked what the Colts could get in return for Richardson this summer. 

Pro Football Reference shows that Richardson ended the 2024 season ranked last in the league among qualified players with a 47.7 percent completion percentage and a 61.6 passer rating. 

Barring a surprising development, Richardson will serve as Jones' backup when the Colts host the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 on Sept. 7. Perhaps some team will become willing to relinquish a worthwhile draft asset to land Richardson before the trade deadline arrives on Nov. 4.