The Indianapolis Colts are excited to get their starting quarterback, Anthony Richardson, back on the field for his second NFL season.
And NFL insider Jordan Schultz is expecting a big sophomore year from Richardson.
I’m expecting big things from uber-talented Anthony Richardson and the #Colts.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) June 17, 2024
🎥: @TheHerd @colincowherd pic.twitter.com/1AbiZZSNdi
The Colts only got to see Richardson on the field for four games last season, but they saw plenty of flashes when he was on the field. His ability as both a passer and a runner puts him in elite company in the NFL as a true dual-threat QB.
Year two is significant for many QBs, but I think it's important to look at other QBs who excelled as dual threats in the NFL when trying to predict the type of player Richardson could be during his second season. Two in particular that come to mind are Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson, two players who had very different experiences during their 2nd season.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson's second season went as well as one could hope. He led the NFL In passing touchdowns with 36 and only threw six interceptions. If that wasn't impressive enough, he also added 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns in the run game. He led the Ravens to a 13-2 record in the 15 games he played and went on to win the 2019 MVP.
Like Richardson, Jackson wasn't able to play a complete season during his rookie year. Although his reason wasn't an injury, it was that the Baltimore Ravens' starter that season was Joe Flacco, not Jackson. But seeing a player with a skill set similar to Richardson take this type of leap gives the Colts and their fans hope for a big sophomore year from their starting QB.
2019 Lamar Jackson might have the best single-season highlight reel ... ever?pic.twitter.com/KhVAkC94tl
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) January 9, 2020
Cam Newton
Newton, like Jackson, is a former NFL MVP winner. Unlike Jackson, though, he didn't accomplish this feat during his second season. In fact, Newton didn't win his MVP until his fifth season in the NFL in 2015. His second season wasn't nearly the success story that Jackson's was. Newton saw regression from his rookie season in terms of passing yards and touchdowns, as well as rushing touchdowns.
Newton threw for 3,869 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, and he added 741 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, leading the Carolina Panthers to a 7-9 record. His season still wants a failure by any means, but not the level of success Jackson had. Newton didn't have the luxury of having a top-tier roster around him, with him being drafted first overall to a Panthers team that had to finish with the worst record in the league in order to have the chance to select him.
I think studying the successes and mistakes of both of these star-level QBs helps to show the things the Colts need to do in order to get the most out of Richardson, not only for next season but the rest of his career. If Richardson is able to have an all-time type of season like Jackson did in his second year, of course, that would go a long way towards the team reaching their goals. But Richardson is more often compared to Newton than Jackson due to their similar body frames. So maybe Newton's best season in 2015, when he won the MVP, is just as important if not more important to study as Jackson's sophomore year.
