INDIANAPOLIS — The Anthony Richardson experiment in Indianapolis is officially on life support. Colts General Manager Chris Ballard confirmed at the scouting combine that he has authorized Richardson’s representatives to seek a trade. This move follows a 2025 season where the former No. 4 overall pick was relegated to the bench, recording just two pass attempts while veteran Daniel Jones locked down the starting job.
While several teams have kicked the tires on a potential deal, the Green Bay Packers have emerged as the frontrunner. The logic is simple. Green Bay recently watched Malik Willis turn a brief, efficient stint as Jordan Love’s backup into a massive three-year, $67.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. Richardson, still only 23, sees the “Green Bay Rehab Clinic” as his best shot at saving a career that has stalled out in the AFC South.
The Packers need a high-upside insurance policy. While Jordan Love remains the undisputed franchise cornerstone, he has missed time in each of the last two seasons. Last year, Daniel Jones stabilized Indy with 3,101 passing yards and 19 touchdowns, effectively ending any hope for a Richardson resurgence under Shane Steichen. The atmosphere at Lucas Oil Stadium felt heavy last December; you could see Richardson standing apart during warmups, a talented thoroughbred kept in a cramped stall.
“We’ve had some discussions. Nothing has come to fruition yet. I’m proud of his growth, but sometimes things don’t work out in one place and they become great at the next. We’ll see how it ends up over the next month.”
— Chris Ballard, Colts General Manager
Richardson is entering the final guaranteed year of his rookie deal with a cap hit of roughly $10.8 million. For Green Bay, this is a low-risk, high-reward play. They likely won’t surrender more than a 2027 sixth-round pick for a player the Colts are desperate to move. If Matt LaFleur can do for Richardson what he did for Willis—stripping the game down to its basics and utilizing that 4.4 speed—the Packers could flip him for a massive profit in 12 months.
The Dolphins’ decision to hand Willis $45 million in total guarantees reset the market for “reclamation project” quarterbacks. Richardson knows it. His camp knows it. Now, it’s just a matter of Ballard and Brian Gutekunst finding the middle ground. Expect a deal to move quickly before the draft kicks off in late April.
