The Colts hold responsibility for the soft Richardson trade market
The Colts did Richardson no favors and have a cold trade market to show for it.
Oct 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) on the sideline during the second quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images | Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Cue the SpongeBob meme in which he is holding a paper clip and a string because that is just about all the Indianapolis Colts sound like they will be getting in return for Anthony Richardson if they can find a trade partner. Gone are the days of the Vikings being rumored to offer four first-round picks to trade up in the draft.
Gone are the white hot rumors of teams lining up for his services when he first requested a trade. The market is stone cold, and the Colts have no one to blame but themselves. Richardson wasn’t ready for the NFL, or at least not right away.
His collegiate experience was far from robust. Less than 400 passing attempts and a slew of injuries including one in which he was dancing at the team hotel was the first set of red flags in an ominous football odyssey. The whole idea was that he was a raw talent.
His incredible RAS looked good on paper and even in person, but it didn’t mean it would translate to the NFL immediately. Richardson should have been eased in, with an old hat veteran to guide him, but he was thrust into action immediately. Look, I get it.