The Anthony Richardson contract decision by the Indianapolis Colts (declining his 5th-year option) indicates the team is ready to move on. Indy had already committed to Daniel Jones as the starter, signing him to an $88 million contract extension in March. Now they will let Richardson play out the last year of his rookie deal before committing any more money. It has been a tumultuous start to his career, struggling with injuries, consistency, and decision-making. To write him off after three years in the league would be a mistake, especially when he possesses arguably the most raw talent in the National Football League (NFL). He just needs a new opportunity elsewhere.
He Has Rare Athletic Traits
While he hasn’t played well yet, Richardson is an elite athlete who should have teams lining up to acquire his services. His combination of size, game-breaking speed, and arm strength makes him one of the rarest prospects to play quarterback in the NFL. Drafted by Indianapolis fourth overall in the 2023 NFL draft, Richardson was considered a project who needed time to develop. He only started 13 games in college at the University of Florida, but the Colts made him a starter right away. This set an expectation to win immediately when Richardson could have benefited from learning first. Even with his struggles, there were flashes in his performance that showed what he’s capable of.
Other coaches can look to that as evidence of untapped potential, believing that Richardson can be a viable starter. Richardson has areas to address before his talent can flourish, most notably his difficulty processing and playing under pressure. A new team with fewer expectations to perform right away would allow him to get a mental reset and focus on improvement before playing again. The NFL has seen a resurgence of first-round quarterbacks fail, then later found success with a new team. Richardson, as a reclamation project, has a huge upside for teams willing to be patient with him.
