Insider Stephen Holder of ESPN reported Saturday quarterback Anthony Richardson has suitors in the NFL trade market. Those teams are likely to pursue Richardson more seriously with free agency dying down.
Interestingly, on Saturday, Holder called out just one interested team by name — the Green Bay Packers.
“Update on Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who is available via trade. No deal is imminent, per multiple sources,” Holder wrote on X. “There are interested teams, but the dust is still settling from free agency.
“On particular team to monitor: the Green Bay Packers.”
When fellow ESPN insider Rob Demovsky read Holder’s update, Demovsky called Richardson, “Malik Willis 2.0.”
In August 2024, the Packers acquired Malik Willis for a 2025 seventh-round pick.
The Packers are in the quarterback market this offseason after Willis left in free agency. He served as Jordan Love’s backup the past two years.
Richardson has posted an 8-7 record as an NFL starter. He came into the league as a raw but high-potential talent. Through three seasons, he has yet to develop into a consistent starter.
But similar to Willis, the potential is still there. Richardson will only turn 24 in May.
“Dual-threat quarterback with an elite physical profile and a lot of work that needs to be done to reach a potentially high ceiling,” NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote during the 2023 draft process. “Richardson’s frame, arm talent and mobility will demand respect as a potential first-round option.
“Ultimately, he will succeed or fail based on his ability to play with better post-snap recognition and deliver the football with consistency.”
Packers Pursuing Anthony Richardson Trade: Report
Holder’s report indicated the Packers have interest in a deal for Richardson.
It’s not clear exactly what the Colts quarterback could cost on the trade market. But it’s very likely it will be more than what Green Bay sent to the Tennessee Titans for Willis two years ago.
On March 7, Heavy Sports proposed Richardson’s value to be a 2026 third-round pick.
Green Bay doesn’t have a first-round pick this year because of the Micah Parsons deal last summer. The Packers also don’t have a first-rounder next year and have salary cap concerns going forward.
Because of that, it’s worth wondering if the Packers would be willing to give up a third-rounder for Richardson. Doing that would give Green Bay only one choice in the top 100 selections this spring.
Richardson is set to have a $10.8 million cap hit during 2026. That’s about in line with other backup quarterbacks around the league. But unless a team exercises his fifth-year option, Richardson will be an unrestricted free agent next year.
The Colts selected Richardson at No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. His 2027 club option is worth $22.483 million.
The deadline to exercise that option is May 1.
Other Potential Backup QB Options for Packers
There’s little doubt Richardson is an intriguing trade target for Green Bay. But if Richardson is going to cost a Day 2 selection and $10 million for just one season, the Packers might be better off signing a veteran backup.
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is a potential target. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed Green Bay as a fit for Cousins on Friday.
“While LaFleur might try to find value with another prospect in the same way the Packers once did when they traded for Willis, Cousins would be a solid option as the backup behind Love in 2026,” wrote Barnwell.
Spotrac projected Cousins’s value this offseason at $10.7 million on a 1-year deal.
Joe Flacco and Tyrod Taylor are two other backup candidates to Love. That is, unless the Packers want to pursue an outside-the-box option such as Russell Wilson.
Any of those quarterbacks would bring valuable experience to Green Bay. They don’t possess Richardson’s upside, but they have higher floors and wouldn’t cost a draft pick.
Packers Singled out as Suitor for ‘High Ceiling’ QB on Trade Market: Report