When Anthony Richardson entered the NFL draft, he wasn’t exactly the talk of the town. His college stats at Florida weren’t anything to brag about—just 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions with a completion rate barely over 50% during his lone full season as a starter in 2022.
While Richardson was known for his raw athleticism and dynamic running game, his passing game left a lot to be desired. But after an eye-popping performance at the combine, showcasing his arm strength and speed, his stock skyrocketed. The Indianapolis Colts took a gamble, selecting him 4th overall in the 2023 draft with the understanding that he’d be a work in progress.
At first, the Colts preached patience, but now, not even two years later, that patience is wearing thin. Richardson has faced a second consecutive injury-plagued season and lost his starting job midway through the year. With the pressure mounting, the Colts decided to bring in some competition to help push the young QB to his potential.
Enter Daniel Jones. While the Colts remain positive about Richardson, the tone has shifted. The team is no longer willing to just wait and hope for a breakthrough—they want results. Colts head coach Shane Steichen recently emphasized that Richardson needs to improve his accuracy to keep his job, and general manager Chris Ballard echoed the sentiment, focusing on Richardson's consistency.
That’s been the biggest issue for the former Florida standout: flashes of brilliance, but not enough sustained success. Take Week 1 of last season, for example—Richardson launched a 60-yard bomb to Alec Pierce but then only completed six more passes in the next three quarters.
Richardson clearly has the raw talent to be a game-changer, but raw talent alone won’t get the job done. The best quarterbacks in the league find ways to be consistent, week in and week out, driving their teams to victory.
The Colts still believe Richardson has the potential to be a star, but if he doesn’t make significant strides this offseason, he may never reach that potential.
