NFL.com’s burning query for Colts is concerning QB Anthony Richardson’s future

In keeping with NFL.com’s Jeffrl Chadiha, the Indianapolis Colts’ burning query this offseason is whether or not ‘this would be the finish of the highway’ for incumbent beginning quarterback Anthony Richardson:

Indianapolis Colts

BURNING QUESTION: Is that this the tip of the highway for Anthony Richardson?

It doesn’t look nice for him. The Colts signed Daniel Jones to a one-year deal to compete with Richardson for the beginning job subsequent season. Colts GM Chris Ballard mentioned the competitors will make all people higher, which looks like one other method of claiming his third-year quarterback had higher step up. That may be a good strategy, as a result of it will be comprehensible for the Colts to have considerations about how a quarterback chosen fourth total within the 2023 NFL Draft goes to fare after two disappointing seasons. Richardson missed 13 video games with accidents as a rookie after which was benched in Weeks 9 and 10 of final season. His profession completion proportion sits at 50.6 %. He additionally has thrown 11 landing passes and 13 interceptions in 15 complete NFL video games. That is why Jones, who fell to 3rd on the Giants’ depth chart earlier than being launched by New York final season, is taken into account an actual possibility for Indianapolis. If Jones can simply be regular, that could possibly be sufficient to maintain Richardson on the bench for good.

After bringing in veteran free agent Daniel Jones, the Colts have proclaimed publicly that will probably be an open offseason competitors between Richardson and the previous New York Giants castoff for the beginning quarterback job in Indianapolis.

Whereas it nonetheless stays within the Colts franchise’s finest pursuits for Richardson to win the job outright on the deserves, it’s anybody’s guess whether or not he can maintain off the highest challenger Jones for the QB1 title all through this 12 months’s coaching camp and the preseason.

Since being the 4th total choose of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Colts haven’t dealt with AR’s preliminary growth arguably all that gracefully.

First, the group introduced in Gardner Minshew throughout Richardson’s rookie 12 months as offseason quarterback competitors, however the expectation was at all times that the previous Florida Gator standout would finally win the job. The Colts’ stance was that having been restricted to only 13 begins with the Gators collectively, Richardson wanted the NFL recreation day reps.

After a tantalizing preliminary debut, Richardson was restricted to only 4 begins throughout his rookie marketing campaign due to a season-ending shoulder damage.

Whereas there have been excessive hopes getting into his 2nd-year in 2024—absolutely recovered and after such a promising begin to his professional profession, Richardson endured a sophomore hunch that seemingly reached its boiling over level throughout his notorious Week 8 ‘tap-out’ in opposition to the Houston Texans—which value the 22-year-old starter, who nonetheless wanted the reps, a 2-game benching.

After the presumed studying lesson, Richardson reportedly turned extra of knowledgeable inside the Colts constructing, exhibiting up early, staying late, and ramping up his movie examine to raised develop into the ‘CEO of W. 56th avenue.’ His play confirmed some enchancment down the season’s stretch too, as following the benching, Richardson led the Colts to late game-winning drives—albeit in opposition to somewhat lackluster NFL competitors.

He nonetheless wants to enhance upon his consistency and particularly his passing accuracy—which was simply 47.7% final season. His availability additionally stays a priority, as nonetheless needing helpful recreation day reps, Richardson missed the Colts’ final two video games due to additional damage.

Jones doesn’t encourage a lot confidence, as he’s struggled from comparable points that Richardson has concerning his sturdiness and turnover inclined tendencies. Like Richardson, he does provide dual-threat mobility, and in a simulated follow setting, doubtless may look higher together with his passing accuracy, finishing extra shorter passes in rhythm.

The Colts have to make use of 2025 to actually see what they’ve with Richardson—each on and off the sphere, and whether or not there’s sufficient manufacturing and promise to proceed with him as their franchise quarterback hopeful going past subsequent 12 months.