The Indianapolis Colts find themselves in perhaps a worse situation at quarterback heading into the 2026 season than they were going into this past season. And that’s saying something.
The Colts were hoping that 2023 fourth-overall NFL Draft pick Anthony Richardson would develop and become the franchise quarterback that they had envisioned several years ago. That, of course, didn’t happen and he ended up instilling even less confidence than he did in 2024 when he completed 47.7% of his passes.
The Colts had signed Daniel Jones to a one-year, $15 million deal as insurance in case Richardson wasn’t up to the task. Jones ended up playing really well and at one point the Colts were the top seed in the AFC. Then he tore his Achilles and the Colts lost seven straight games to end the season at 8-9.
Now what?
They could pick up Richardson’s fifth-year option for 2027 and hope that he turns it around this year. Then they would potentially have a star QB under contract at a reasonable salary for the following season. Would they do that?
NFL analyst and former scout says Indianapolis Colts should decline Richardson’s option
Marc Ross is a former NFL scout who is now an NFL analyst. Eagles fans will remember his claim to fame as the mastermind behind their 2002 draft, which netted Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Michael Lewis and Brian Westbrook in the first three rounds.
So yes, he knows his stuff. Ross says that the Colts would be wise to simply move on.
“Exercise the option? No,” Ross writes.
“Indy took a gamble when selecting Richardson fourth overall, and that gamble hasn’t paid off,” he continues. “He played four games as a rookie before a shoulder injury ended his season. He missed multiple games in 2024 with hip, oblique and back injuries, before losing the starting gig to Daniel Jones in the 2025 preseason. In October, he suffered an eye injury during pregame warmups that sent him to injured reserve, leaving the Colts to turn to 44-year-old Philip Rivers and rookie Riley Leonard after Jones was lost for the year with an Achilles tear.
“I’m not sure how long the Colts can continue to keep their eggs in this basket.”
Anthony Richardson hasn’t thought about his future with the Indianapolis Colts
Back on January 1st, Richardson spoke to Colts reporter James Boyd about his status with the Colts. His answer was kind of telling and perhaps indicative of why he’ll never be the face of an NFL franchise.
“I always think about my future in general,” Richardson said. “I always want my life to be better … I haven’t necessarily thought about my future here because I don’t see anything wrong right now. Setbacks happen.”
It just comes off as a laissez-faire attitude and I don’t think that’s what any NFL team is looking for. Maybe he’s just giving standard answers to the media and that’s possible. But, does he really not see anything wrong right now? You were drafted fourth overall to be a starting quarterback, you’ve been hurt, performed poorly and lost your starting job to a bust-turned-rent-a-free-agent. And everything’s cool?
Indianapolis Colts Facing Crucial Decision on First-Round Draft Pick