2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal campaign for the Indianapolis Colts, starting with potential offseason moves over the next two months including dealing their 2023 first round draft pick Anthony Richardson Sr.
The relationship between Richardson and the Colts appears inevitable to have reached a point of no return. According to recent reports, the fourth-year quarterback is expected to request a trade this offseason as the Colts intend to bring back Daniel Jones on a long-term deal before he could even sniff the open market.
Richardson was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft after his rare physical tools were put on full display at the NFL Scouting Combine, held each year in Indianapolis since 1987. There was no better place for the 6-foot-4, 250-pound stallion to showcase elite arm strength, game-changing speed and generational athleticism other than inside Lucas Oil Stadium in front of NFL scouts and evaluators.
The Colts suddenly benched Richardson after just 10 starts and appear to have completely moved on after just three years into his NFL career. Last season, Richardson completed just one pass, to himself. Even during the “QB competition”, Richardson was plagued by repeated injuries, starting with his dislocated finger just six snaps into the preseason opener. Two months later, Richardson also suffered an severe eye injury during a bizarre accident caused by a resistance band snapping and fracturing his orbital bone while warming up for a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Over his first three seasons, he’s dealt with an AC joint sprain, oblique and back issues, an orbital fracture, and inconsistent reliability. All those factors left the Colts searching for stability at the game’s most important position. The Colts have started eight different quarterbacks in the last nine season openers and Richardson is the only one to have started more than once.
There may have not been any formal trade requests sent to Indianapolis just yet, but it’s starting to feel “inevitable” that Richardson will want a fresh start elsewhere if he’s not going to be the Colts’ primary starter in 2026. Richardson is on the final year of his rookie deal, so trading him this offseason could benefit the Colts beyond holding onto a backup before he leaves for nothing.
Sources indicate Indianapolis plans to re-sign Daniel Jones, who despite coming off a torn Achilles, has cemented himself as the presumed starter once healthy. 2025 sixth round draft pick Riley Leonard also seems poised to become the Colts backup QB.
How much trade value does Richardson have in 2026? His stock is undeniably lower than when he was selected fourth overall, because there’s still concerns about returning rusty as his injury history complicates his projection. Richardson is only 23 and intends to play on a relatively affordable rookie deal for at least another prove-it year. There were 63 different starting quarterbacks in the 2025 season, essentially two per team. Clubs with unproven quarterbacks or offensive systems built for athletic signal-callers may view Richardson as a reclamation project that may thrive elsewhere.
At least five franchises have unproven QB rooms, including the Raiders who own the No. 1 draft pick, along with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
If the Colts pull the trigger on a trade, based strictly on the reports that Richardson does plan to request one, the return won’t be blockbuster. At best, expectations are a mid-round draft compensation like a third, fourth, or conditional picks, rather than a haul of early premium assets. The Stampede Blue staff even pondered the “Draft Day” idea of asking the Jets for Indy’s first round picks back, plus a kick returner just because I feel like it.
From Richardson’s perspective, a trade might benefit him for a developmental reset. Some quarterbacks thrive on second chances if they land in a system designed to use their mobility and play-making skills more consistently. Trading Richardson would cement the message that the Colts are fully committed to running it back with Jones to finish off what they started before his season-ending Achilles injury.
Indianapolis believes Jones is their starter, so a trade creates a chance to target needs in other areas on the depth chart. Draft picks gained in a trade could be invested in defensive upgrades, areas that have long been concerns for Indianapolis. It gives GM Chris Ballard flexibility in what’s expected to be a shallow draft class.
The latest news surrounding Richardson being a trade block candidate reflects a larger truth in the league, that talent alone doesn’t guarantee long-term stability without consistent production and availability. For the Colts, moving on might be a necessary step toward finally ending their quarterback carousel and sticking with Jones long-term. It’s an inevitable outcome that may benefit all parties involved.
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