It won’t be shocking if the Indianapolis Colts trade quarterback Anthony Richardson. Starter Daniel Jones, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, is expected to re-sign with the Colts this offseason. Riley Leonard will likely serve as his primary backup. That means Richardson is the odd man out.
Dustin Baker of Vikings Territory listed the Minnesota Vikings as a possible landing spot for Richardson:
“4. Trade a Late-Rounder for Anthony Richardson
The Indianapolis Colts used the fourth overall pick on Anthony Richardson in 2023, knowing he was as raw as they get from the draft’s Top 10 and insisting they’d be patient with his maturation. How long did that experiment last? Oh, 15 starts. Somewhere, Richardson will eventually deserve a chance to start again, to make sure coaches have exhausted all QB1 efforts in him. Why not the Vikings? General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could probably get Richardson for a 6th-Round pick.”
Vikings starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy needs a backup, and Anthony Richardson could be the guy.
Anthony Richardson Listed as a Quarterback Target for Vikings
His Career in Indianapolis
Due to injury, Anthony Richardson missed all but four games as a rookie. He returned to the field the following season, hoping to win Comeback Player of the Year Honors. Yet, he had another disappointing year. Richardson battled injuries, was benched temporarily, and struggled with accuracy issues. In 2024, he passed for 1,814 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 499 yards and six touchdowns. In addition, he posted a 6-5 record as Indy’s starter.
Richardson had a few great moments in 2024. He had a game-winning touchdown run in Week 11 against the New York Jets. Then, in Week 13 versus the New England Patriots, he orchestrated a 19-play drive capped off with a two-point conversion.
This season, Richardson lost his starting job to newcomer Daniel Jones. On October 13, Richardson was placed on injured reserve after fracturing the orbital bone in his eye during pregame warmups. He appeared in just two games this season, completing one of his two passes (to himself) for nine yards.
Does Richardson Make Sense?
2025 was J.J. McCarthy’s first season as the Vikings’ starting quarterback. While the former Michigan star had an up-and-down campaign, he’s expected to remain in Minnesota next season.
Yes, trading for Anthony Richardson makes sense for the Vikings. He could compete with McCarthy for the starting job. Many people consider Richardson a bust thus far. However, he could wind up reviving his career sort of like Sam Darnold did in 2024 with the Vikings.
Richardson is only 23 years old, extremely athletic, and has a cannon for an arm. If he can somehow stay healthy (which he has struggled to do) and improve his accuracy, Richardson could possibly develop into a star in Minnesota. Sometimes a change of scenery can help a quarterback turn things completely around.
Plus, like Baker pointed out, the Vikings could probably land Richardson for only a sixth-round pick. That’s not bad at all.
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