After the Indianapolis Colts named Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback, will the team now trade Anthony Richardson Sr.?
Colts Address Anthony Richardson Trade Rumors
🗣️ chris ballard spoke to the media today.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 27, 2025
The Colts might be benching Richardson, but they have no intention of trading him.
While speaking with the media on Wednesday, Colts general manager Chris Ballard was asked about the possibility of trading Richardson. Ballard immediately squashed any trade rumors.
“We’re not trading him,” Ballard said via the Colts’ team website.
The Colts selected Richardson with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
After showing promise in four games during his rookie season, Richardson regressed in 2024. Richardson finished the 2024 campaign, throwing for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with a 47.7 completion percentage.
Despite his struggles through the air, Richardson still managed to be an efficient runner, with 499 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Richardson has all the physical tools to be a franchise quarterback. However, he must improve as a passer if he wants any shot of seeing the field.
Ballard still believes Richardson can turn things around.
“I’m proud of Anthony, of where he’s at, how far he’s come. He’s come miles,” Ballard said. “I want you to think back, and it’s tough on any young quarterback in this league, but for him to keep taking the growth steps that he has and to work so hard, and then to not get the goal for himself, now to continue to do that — that’s when we got a chance to see real growth. And there’s a lot of value in sitting behind a guy that’s a professional and watching and learning and growing and working on the things you need to work on without the same pressure of being the starter. There’s a lot of good to that.”
Ballard added, “We took a swing and look, I’m not ready to say that we missed because I don’t think we have yet. I think Anthony has a bright future. I believe that.”
Daniel Jones Will Be QB1
chris ballard speaks to the media before the 2025 season. https://t.co/DeEsMmf2Mx
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 27, 2025
When the Colts host the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7, Jones will be under center for the offense.
After leading the New York Giants to the postseason during the 2022 season, Jones took several steps back as a quarterback due to poor play and injuries.
After that magical 2022 season, Jones went 3-12 as the starter before his release in November 2024.
Now in Indianapolis, Jones gets another shot at being a franchise quarterback. Ballard compared Jones’ situation to a former No. 1 pick in San Francisco.
“At the end of the day, Daniel won the job. Does that mean we’re down on Anthony? No,” Ballard said. “But I don’t want to dismiss that Daniel’s had a good run here. Reminds me a lot of Alex Smith that we had in Kansas City that I thought was the ultimate professional day in and day out, the team knew exactly what they were getting. And I feel that’s kind of the same thing with Daniel.”
