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Who should trade for Anthony Richardson? These 5 teams make sense.
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- Who should trade for Anthony Richardson? These 5 teams make sense.
In a city known for racing, it could be the white flag that is waved on the Anthony Richardson era in Indianapolis .
The Indianapolis Colts have given Richardson permission to seek a trade, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Colts had not yet announced the discussions.
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The news was originally reported by ESPN's Stephen Holder .
If the Colts decide to move the 23-year-old, there should be no shortage of suitors considering the lack of quarterback options in free agency and the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
Drafted by the Indianapolis with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Richardson was supposed to be the answer. Instead he has left more questions, despite possessing the complete toolbox with size, speed, arm strength, mobility and more. The Colts, and Richardson, failed to use those tools to craft the NFL's next great quarterback.
"He's a really good teammate, positive. wants to do the right thing," Colts general manager Chris Ballard said of Richardson at the NFL combine. "So it's trending in the right direction.
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"I still believe in Anthony."
After losing the quarterback competition to Daniel Jones in 2025, Richardson rode the bench as the team thrived. His season was later ended by an orbital bone fracture. Injuries have always been part of the story for Richardson, who played in just 15 of a possible 34 games through his first two seasons as the team's starter.
Ballard said on Feb. 24 that Richardson had been cleared to play from his eye injury.
Jones is set to be a free agent, but he figures to be a possible long-term solution for Indianapolis. That leaves Richardson on the outside looking in and possibly on the trade market.
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Here's a look at some of the best landing spots Richardson should be seeking out.
Anthony Richardson landing spots
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is set to return for the 2026 season and there is no path for Richardson to start immediately, barring injury. However, it's the structure here that makes it an enticing landing spot for the quarterback. Between Stafford and Sean McVay, Richardson would be afforded the same type of learning opportunity that helped revive Sam Darnold's career.
While Darnold enjoyed learning under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota , Richardson could begin his redemption story with a stop in the City of Angels.
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Minnesota Vikings
Speaking of O'Connell, Richardson also fits in seamlessly here. Unlike Los Angeles, the quarterback could potentially compete for the starting job here and soak up all the knowledge available to him. The Vikings have rostered Darnold and Jones in recent years, watching them go on to thrive elsewhere. Richardson wouldn't have a tough room to face as presently constructed, with J.J. McCarthy 's 2025 season leaving much to be desired in a franchise passer.
Richardson has all the tools, and then some, to be the next success story out of O'Connell's quarterback career rehabilitation program.
New York Jets
If starting is what Richardson wants, starting is what he would get with the Jets – who are at the point where anyone with a pulse that can throw a football would suffice. The Justin Fields experiment failed miserably, Tyrod Taylor is a free agent and Brady Cook showed that he isn't the answer either. New York's coaching staff enters the 2026 season already on the hot seat and they likely won't have the luxury of drafting a quarterback at the top of the upcoming NFL draft.
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That means they'll need to be creative to find someone to quarterback Frank Reich's offense this season. The 23-year-old fits the prototypical size of a quarterback that Reich can be successful with, while also adding plenty of mobility. He is essentially a blank slate and talent has never been a question, making Richardson the type of dart throw they should make. It just remains to be seen if they are the right team to unlock him.
Miami Dolphins
The Tua Tagovailoa era appears to be coming to an end in Miami, potentially opening up another staring job in the league next season. Armed with a new regime and no real quarterback solution for 2026, Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan are also in the creativity boat that the Jets will board this offseason. Malik Willis is a logical free agent to connect to Miami, given the new regime's ties to the Green Bay Packers , but what if he ends up elsewhere?
In a season of transition for the Dolphins , taking a chance on Richardson makes a ton of sense. Hafley and Sullivan will be afforded at least this season to begin reshaping the franchise. In the meantime, they can win over fans by bringing the former Florida Gators star back to his hometown. With a little luck, perhaps that move works in more ways than one.
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Arizona Cardinals
The 2026 NFL Draft's weak quarterback class is a theme here. Just like the Jets and Dolphins, the Cardinals are faced with the potential need for a new signal caller and options are limited. They own the No. 3 pick in a draft that has one quarterback at the top. Kyler Murray's future in the desert is uncertain and new head coach Mike LaFleur could want to start fresh.
It's unlikely that fresh start comes in free agency, unless they convince Willis to pack his bags for Arizona. That would leave the trade market if Murray is dealt elsewhere. For better or worse, the Cardinals are one of the more hidden NFL teams. They rarely, if ever, draw the attention away from the big markets out east and play in the shadows of the more successful teams out west. In other words, Richardson wouldn't be in the spotlight as he tries to turn his career around and that could be beneficial for everyone involved.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Richardson best fits: Landing spots as Colts QB seeks trade
