GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Malik Willis blueprint worked so well that Brian Gutekunst is reportedly ready to run it back. After watching Willis parlay a career-saving stint in Green Bay into a three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins this week, the Packers are hunting for their next reclamation project. ESPN’s Stephen Holder reports that Green Bay is a “particular team to monitor” as the trade market for Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson catches fire.
Green Bay’s interest comes at a time of transition for both the player and the franchise. The Packers currently have a depth chart featuring Desmond Ridder and Kyle McCord behind franchise centerpiece Jordan Love. Both were late-season additions in 2025 when Love and Willis dealt with injuries. While Ridder offers experience, he lacks the “unicorn” ceiling that Richardson possesses.
Richardson is currently an odd man out in Indianapolis. The Colts recently handed Daniel Jones a two-year, $88 million extension, signaling they’ve found their guy. Jones flashed Pro Bowl form in 2025 before a season-ending Achilles tear, but the real hurdle for Richardson is Riley Leonard. The 2025 sixth-round pick became a local hero in Week 18, racking up 270 passing yards and three total touchdowns against the Texans. With the Colts essentially “kicking Richardson to the curb,” a fresh start under Matt LaFleur is the exact medicine the former Florida star needs.
The numbers on Richardson aren’t pretty. In three seasons, he has thrown for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He appeared in only two games in 2025 due to a fractured orbital bone. Yet, his youth remains his biggest selling point. At 23, Richardson is only one year older than Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana signal-caller projected to go No. 1 overall to the Raiders in next month’s draft. If any staff can fix Richardson’s 48% completion rate, it’s the one that just turned Willis into the most efficient passer in the league.
“I think when I came into the league, I wasn’t prepared. That’s not a knock toward my coaches or myself; that’s just what it was. I’ve had the chance to learn… I just think I’ve grown a lot.”
— Malik Willis, Former Packers QB (reflecting on the Green Bay system)
Pulling the trigger on Richardson would be a classic Gutekunst move. The Packers need a backup who can win games with his legs if Love’s injury woes from late 2025 resurface. Richardson has 634 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground in limited action, offering the high-floor rushing ability that LaFleur craves in his backup packages.
The cost will likely be a Day 3 pick, a small price to pay for a player with Richardson’s athletic profile. Indianapolis has given him permission to seek a trade, and with the “Gute Blueprint” for 2026 emphasizing roster depth, expect talks to intensify before the draft kicks off in Green Bay this April. The Packers proved they can resurrect a career once; Richardson is betting they can do it again.
