On Tuesday morning, the Indianapolis Colts officially ended their quarterback competition by naming Daniel Jones the Week 1 starter. After two seasons, the Anthony Richardson experiment seems to be over.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen stated that Jones is the planned starter for the entire season.
“At the end of the day, as the coach, I’ve got to do what I feel is best for the Colts this season.” He went on to clarify Jones’ status, “Look, he’s our starting quarterback for the season… I don’t want to have a quick leash on that.”
So, where does this leave Anthony Richardson? The 2023 fourth overall pick is not left to evaluate his NFL future, and where he can go next. The real question here is, did the Colts fail Anthony Richardson?
Richardson was the fourth overall pick in a weak QB draft. The Colts were coming off a 4-12 season with a new head coach taking the reins. AR5 was expected to kick things off strong.
The problem for Richardson is that he was underdeveloped going into the NFL. In three seasons at Florida, he only played in 24 games, 12 of which were in his final year. He had only 215 completions in that time, and a 24-15 TD-INT ratio. Simply put, he wasn’t ready to turn a franchise around.
Richardson was brought into the QB room of Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger. One of the best qualities he had was his raw athleticism, and Steichen felt he could mold him into a franchise QB. He was thrown right into a starting role, and in four weeks, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. He looked promising in those four games, throwing for 577 yards and three touchdowns, along with 136 rushing yards and four more touchdowns.
Richardson returned in 2024, and once again, the Colts threw him right into the starting role. He was inconsistent through the first eight weeks, missing two of them due to injury, and was then benched by the team. In a game against the Houston Texans, he pulled himself out for a down, saying he “needed a breather”. He set the sports world ablaze, drawing hate from everyone for his work ethic.
The Colts’ benching of Richardson for Joe Flacco felt like a punishment, not a chance to develop him. He was a project QB from the jump, but this just showed that the team had lost interest in the project, and maybe he had as well. He saw the field again a few weeks later and finish the season without making any more headlines.
It’s worth noting that prior to his NFL career beginning, Richardson underwent a nasal septum surgery to improve his breathing. Taking himself out of the play for a breather could’ve been due to a history of problems, or maybe he just had the wind knocked out of him. Regardless of the reason, fans now simply saw him as lazy.
The Colts decided that in Richardson’s third year, after only 15 NFL starts, he’d compete for his job with former first-round pick Daniel Jones. Jones spent his first six seasons with the New York Giants, where he consistently struggled to reach his potential.
A healthy QB competition could be beneficial for everyone, especially a player with a questionable work ethic. It’s not surprising that Jones won the job though, with 70 NFL games played and a playoff win under his belt; experience played a huge factor.
It’s easy to say Richardson should’ve outperformed Jones, but the bottom line is he wasn’t ready for the job in the first place. Two years of injuries and the team displaying a lack of faith in him prevented any kind of growth.
The Colts have now given up on the project they wanted, in favor of a short-term solution. Jones isn’t a legitimate contender in the NFL, and he won’t turn Indy into a playoff team. Considering his career to this point, how can anyone be confident about 2025?
It’s insane to think after the career he’s had so far, but Richardson is only 23 years old. He’s younger than Shedeur Sanders, Tyler Shough, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix. He has plenty of time to figure things out in the NFL.
Richardson being benched isn’t a bad move; it’s just too late now. The Colts made mistakes all along the way with him. They drafted him too high, they should’ve sat him in his rookie season, they should’ve sat him to start his second year coming off an injury. He never had time to get comfortable in the system.
Geno Smith, Sam Darnold ,and Baker Mayfield have become blueprints for a “bust” finding success on a new team. If Jones plays the whole season and proves competent, Richardson could be traded before his rookie deal ends. He’d be best off in Los Angeles or Vegas learning behind a veteran like Matthew Stafford or Geno.
Daniel Jones himself was a project QB when the Giants drafted him. Through three head coaches and two general managers, he lacked a consistent environment. The regime in Indianapolis hasn’t addressed the QB position properly, and now they’ve ended up with another failed project.
This move is simply biding time for the Colts to draft another QB or sign a different free agent. Jones might see improvement in a new system, but his time in New York should be more than enough evidence of his shortcomings.
Jones is a QB who plays things safe; he gets shaken in the backfield and struggles to make confident moves. He has talent, but he’s lacking the presence of a commanding leader.
Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles all started multiple games for Indy before Richardson’s arrival. Daniel Jones is a lateral move compared to these names.
Shane Steichen is trying to turn the Colts into a playoff contender. At the end of the day, if he believes Jones gives them a chance to win games, it’s his job to make that call. He’s correct for making the decision he believes in, but he and general manager Chris Ballard put the team in this position.
Indy has been without a promising QB since Andrew Luck retired in 2019. Since then, they’ve passed on multiple passers who worked out in the league. The team has prioritized the wrong things.
Anthony Richardson was never given a fair shake on the Colts. He also made it harder on himself along the way. This whole experiment is a failure, because neither of them could bring out the best in the other.
AR5 has all the physical tools to be a star, and his first four games showed that. He just needs to be put in an environment where he can find it. Where both sides go from here will certainly be interesting after this.
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