Anthony Richardson Reportedly 'Open' to Colts Trade, Joining 'Premier Playcaller'

One month away from the NFL trade deadline, Anthony Richardson could be among the more intriguing potential candidates to be moved if the Indianapolis Colts want to shop him around.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Richardson is at least "open" to the idea of a trade that would allow him to play with a "premier playcaller" in hopes of rebuilding some value for the 2026 season.

ESPN's Dan Graziano added there were at least "a couple of teams" wondering if the Colts were open to trading Richardson this past offseason, but the offense's success so far this season with Daniel Jones at quarterback could at least open the door for a potential move involving the 23-year-old.

When the Colts named Jones as their starting quarterback in August, general manager Chris Ballard immediately shot down any talk that Richardson could be moved.

"We're not trading him," Ballard told reporters on Aug. 27.

It was an understandable position to take at the time. Jones wasn't exactly a player with a proven track record of success from his six seasons with the New York Giants.

Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, had seen his value plummet over his first two seasons that it would have been virtually impossible to get a decent return for him.

Even though it's only been four weeks, the Colts can feel good about the state of their offense with Jones under center. They are 3-1, rank fourth in points per game and even held their own in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Los Angeles raMS.

Jones is completing 71.6 percent of his attempts for 1,078 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He has also run for three touchdowns.

Of course, the Colts will have to decide about Jones' long-term future soon. He is only signed to a one-year contract and can become a free agent next offseason, though they could buy themselves additional time if they use the franchise tag to keep him in 2026.

Richardson's age and physical skill set would make him an attractive rebuilding project for a head coach with a track record of success working with quarterbacks.

Fowler specifically cited someone like Sean McVay of the Rams as being an attractive option for Richardson if the opportunity presents itself. Matthew Stafford if playing at an incredibly high level right now, but he is 37 and has talked about retirement in recent years.

Richardson isn't necessarily a quarterback you would want to guarantee a starting spot given the struggles he has had over the past two seasons, but he's still young enough for a coach to believe they can turn him around.

Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, is only three days younger than Richardson. The Florida alum also has one more year on his rookie deal with a $1.1 million base salary in 2026.

Given how many teams have been impacted by injuries and poor play from the quarterback spot so far this season, it would't be surprising to see someone try to pitch the Colts on a deal for Richardson before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.