Anthony Richardson was supposed to be the next quarterback who broke the NFL. At 6-foot-4 with a cannon for an arm and rare running ability, the 2023 fourth overall pick looked like a cheat code waiting to happen.
Instead, he has become a warning about confusing potential with progress.
Through three seasons, Richardson has completed just 50.6% of his passes, with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions across 17 appearances. Injuries have limited his chances, including a season-ending orbital fracture in 2025. But the numbers point to a bigger problem than bad luck: the Indianapolis Colts still haven’t seen enough consistent quarterback play to trust him as their starter.
The tools were never the problem
Richardson entered the league with only 13 starts at Florida. That made him an extraordinary athlete and an unusually unfinished quarterback prospect. The Colts drafted the ceiling, betting coaching and game reps could close the gap between his physical gifts and his fundamentals.
That bet has not paid off. His completion rate fell from 59.5% in four games as a rookie to 47.7% in 2024. He can make spectacular throws and punish defenses as a runner, but routine accuracy, timing, and consistency have been harder to find. The infamous decision to tap out of a game in 2024 also raised questions about his readiness for the demands of being an NFL starter, though one moment should not define his entire career.
Injuries matter. So does development. Still, at some point, “raw” stops being an explanation and becomes the reason a team regrets its evaluation.
A fresh start has to mean something
Richardson may still have a path back, but it probably won’t come from simply changing jerseys. In February, it was reported that the Colts and Richardson had agreed to explore a trade, but no deal is guaranteed, and the market appears far less robust than his draft position might suggest.
A new team would need a real plan: simplify his early reads, build confidence with quick throws, use designed runs selectively, and let his arm strength create explosive plays without asking him to play like a polished pocket passer overnight. He needs repetition, stability, and a coach willing to develop him rather than treat him as a ready-made starter.
That cannot become an excuse to hide him from the hard parts of quarterbacking. Richardson still has to improve his footwork, accuracy, and processing. A new system can create better conditions. It cannot throw the ball for him.
The clock is running out
The Colts have moved forward with Daniel Jones, and Richardson’s future in Indianapolis is uncertain. He is still young enough for a team to take a low-cost chance, but the franchise-quarterback runway is shrinking. A former top-five pick becoming a backup or reclamation project is not the same as being out of the league. It is, however, a dramatic fall from the expectations attached to his selection.
Richardson’s story is not proof that teams should stop drafting raw athletes. It is a reminder that athletic upside is only valuable if an organization has the time, patience, and plan to develop it.
Maybe Richardson becomes the rare late-blooming quarterback who finally puts it together. Maybe he becomes another cautionary tale about drafting a highlight reel and hoping the quarterback follows. Right now, the NFL has more evidence for the second outcome.
His career may not be over. The chance to become the player everyone imagined, though, is getting harder to see.
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