5 NFL Teams That Should Pursue Anthony Richardson Trade Amid QB Competition

Not that long ago, Anthony Richardson was viewed as a potential superstar in the making. With the build of a fullback, 4.43-second speed and a cannon for a right arm, he didn't make it out of the top-five of the 2023 NFL draft after the Indianapolis Colts selected him fourth overall.

Things haven’t gone according to plan, though.

Through two seasons, the 6'4", 244-pounder has won more starts than he's lost, but thanks to a combination of injuries and a 2024 benching, he has played in just 15 of a possible 34 games.

He has been outstanding as a runner but not so much as a passer; he has barely completed half his passes with more interceptions than touchdowns.

Now, the Colts have brought in another former first-round pick under center in Daniel Jones, who has had considerably more NFL success than Richardson despite his own flaws.

And Colts head coach Shane Steichen has said that beginning in OTAs, Jones and Richardson will split first-team reps at quarterback.

That could wind up meaning nothing, but it could also mean Richardson's days as a starter are numbered. And while the Colts may be running out of patience with the Florida State product, there are NFL teams who could use a wildly athletic quarterback still on his rookie contract.

It may be unlikely Richardson is traded, but it's not impossible. And the handful of teams listed here would be wise to at least give Colts general manager Chris Ballard a call.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are already pursuing a quarterback with the initials A.R.

Given how that's going, it might not be a bad idea to consider a Plan B or even to switch to Richardson as Plan A.

Pittsburgh's pursuit of Aaron Rodgers has been ongoing for some time, but while no signing is imminent, head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters at the NFL owners meetings that he's not overly concerned about the uncertainty at quarterback:

"I'm really comfortable with being unsettled this time of year, to be quite honest with you. It's about talent acquisition. We got two main means of acquiring talent: free agency and the draft. We multitask. We do both. Those needs that we fulfill in free agency, we do so there. And what we don't, we fulfill it in the draft. So, I just learned over the years that this time of year, although day-to-day can be somewhat uncomfortable, it is a process."

Frankly, all the drama surrounding the pursuit of Rodgers should be a red flag for the team—drama and the 41-year-old seem to go hand-hand these days. And even if he does sign in Pittsburgh, he's only a short-term fix.

If the Steelers believe in Richardson's talent, they could obtain a former top-five pick who could still be under team control for three more seasons at a reasonable amount.

Given his struggles over his first two pro seasons, their No. 21 overall pick this year would probably be too rich for the Steelers' blood for a swap.

But it's possible a package containing Day 2 picks and, say, wide receiver George Pickens (who has been the subject of multiple trade rumors recently) might be enough for the Colts to at least consider making a move.

Tennessee Titans

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It’s no secret the Tennessee Titans need a quarterback. And with the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, they are in the catbird's seat where this year's class is concerned.

However, Titans head coach Brian Callahan told reporters that the team hasn't made a final decision on what it will doing with the top pick.

"We're open to everything at this point," he said. "If it's something you feel is beyond the value you ever thought you could get, that's one thing. But you also have to look at what a potential quarterback could look like. Those guys, to me, are priceless."

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently proposed a potential blockbuster involving Richardson, a pair of first-rounders for the Colts and this year's No. 1 overall pick.

“Given Richardson's lack of development in Indianapolis, he probably wouldn't draw first-round value in a trade if dealt alone," he wrote. "However, a young quarterback, two first-round picks and a fifth-round sweetener might be enough to convince the Titans to move into the middle of Round 1."

A trade that huge in scope would be a rarity, even in today's more free-wheeling NFL. But the Titans also have the third pick in Round 2, and they could consider a conditional pick in 2026 as well.

With all due respect to presumptive No. 1 pick Cam Ward, he's no more a sure thing than Richardson at this point.

And if the Titans could somehow acquire Richardson without sacrificing the No. 1 selection, they could either go the best player available route with Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter or flip the pick for a veritable bonanza of selections.

Cleveland Browns

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This iteration of the Cleveland Browns has been around about a quarter-century. The team has also been looking for a viable starting quarterback for about a quarter-century.

The team mortgaged its entire future to obtain Deshaun Watson a few years ago and then handed him a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract. It was perhaps the worst personnel move in the history of the NFL.

And owner Jimmy Haslam conceded the Watson deal was a disaster at the NFL owners meeting:

"We took a big swing-and-miss with Deshaun. We thought we had the quarterback; we didn't. And we gave up a lot of draft picks to get him, so we've got to dig ourselves out of that hole. [The trade] was an entire organization decision and it ends with Dee [Haslam] and I, so hold us accountable."

Given Cleveland's gaping hole at quarterback, many mock drafts have the team selecting Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders second overall. But there’s some dissension as to whether he merits that pick, and Haslam said the Browns aren't going to draft a quarterback just to draft one.

"It would be great if we could get 'the quarterback,' but we're not going to force it," he said. "We're going to be patient and we're going to try to accumulate as many really good football players as we can."

Cleveland also has the first pick in Round 2 and a handful of veteran players such as cornerbacks Martin Emerson Jr. and Greg Newsome II, who could be on the trade block this offseason.

Like the Titans, Cleveland potentially adding a talented young quarterback on a rookie deal without dealing the second overall pick could be a game-changer for the Browns.

New Orleans Saints

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There was no shortage of uncertainty this offseason regarding Derek Carr’s future in New Orleans. But head coach Kellen Moore told reporters at his introductory press conference the team remains confident in the 34-year-old.

"I think we've been consistent through this whole process," he said. "We feel really good about Derek and we're excited to team up with him and the things that he can do for us. We want him here, and it'll be a good situation."

That player and team have hugged it out became a bit harder to believe recently though. Per Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football, Carr actually requested a trade earlier this offseason, and the relationship between the veteran and the club is "tenuous at best."

See where we're going with this?

Now, a quarterback swap is unlikely—the Colts likely don't have a lot of interest in a mediocre veteran with a staggering cap hit of $69.2 million in 2026, and Carr has a no-trade clause.

However, if the relationship truly is that strained, he may well be willing to sign off on being shipped out. And while the Colts may not want Carr, there are probably going to be at least a couple of teams who will miss out on this year's edition of musical chairs under center.

The ninth overall pick likely won't be enough to land Shedeur Sanders, so the Saints can either reach for a player like Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe on Day 2 to look to the future under center…or kick the tires on Richardson and then flip Carr to a team like the Steelers or Browns.

New York Giants

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Among the teams listed in this column, the New York Giants have the most settled quarterback situation after signing Russell Wilson.

While speaking to reporters, general manager Joe Schoen was effusive in his praise of what the 36-year-old brings to the team:

"He's a 10-time Pro Bowler, a guy who's throwing for over 20 touchdowns, I believe it's every year except for two in his career. He played 11 games last year and threw for 16 [touchdowns]. So, the production, he knows what it looks like. He knows how to win. Leadership. I'm just excited to have a guy in the building with as many skins on the wall as he has at the quarterback position."

However, Wilson was brought in on just a one-year deal, and while the G-Men also added Jameis Winston in free agency, neither is a long-term solution under center in New York.

In fact, there are mock drafts that still predict the Giants will select a quarterback with the third overall pick.

Much like with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, taking a run at Richardson could allow the Giants to have their cake and eat it.

With Wilson on the roster, the young quarterback could take a season to slow things down and develop as a passer under an offensive-minded former Coach of the Year in Brian Daboll. The third pick could then be used on Carter, Sanders or as bait for a trade that could land New York an extra first-rounder next year.

Compensation could be tricky here. But given how aggressive the Giants have been at quarterback this offseason, Schoen might as well kick the tires on this move, too.