In the three seasons since the Colts used a top-five pick on the Florida product, Richardson has completed 50.6% of 350 pass attempts for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
One team to watch, according to Wolfe, is the Minnesota Vikings, who are trying to fill out their QB room alongside JJ McCarthy and are interested in Richardson.
On Tuesday, general manager Chris Ballard dismissed the idea that with the Colts looking to bring Jones back, Richardson would not have a future in the organization. Ballard added that Richardson has been injury free.
“I’m not going to say he needs a complete fresh start,” Ballard said Tuesday at the scouting conference. “Anthony’s still young. He’s still developing. So we’ll see what the future holds. But I still believe in Anthony.”
After meeting with the QB’s representatives, however, the sentiment is that Richardson’s future lies elsewhere.
Given Richardson’s athletic ability, someone will take a chance on him as a rehab project. However, the return on any trade will be minimal at best and a far cry from the first round pick they used on the talented but inexperienced passer.
Like fellow top-five QB Trey Lance, who washed out of San Francisco and is struggling to regain his status, Richardson has an uphill battle to become more than just a preseason quarterback. However, in the right system, his athleticism and deep ball ability could be dynamic. He’s the latest example that the NFL isn’t a great incubator for quarterbacks who lack experience and need time on the field to really grow.
Generally, when the parties agree to seek a transaction, if nothing happens, a release follows. Whether the Colts go that route or keep him through the summer if injuries occur elsewhere remains to be seen. But it’s clear Richardson’s future no longer resides in Indy.