When you hear the name Anthony Richardson, “future bust” might come to mind. Sure, the young Indianapolis Colts quarterback might turn out to be a major disappointment. Eventually, Richardson might be mentioned in the same sentence as quarterback busts like Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell. But then again, he could also develop into a big-time star down the road. No one can predict the future.
The Colts had a quarterback carousel for years following Andrew Luck’s retirement. Guys like Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan were a part of this. Indianapolis tried to change things around, though, by drafting Richardson fourth overall in 2023.
Unfortunately, Richardson played only four games as a rookie due to injury. He has missed two games this year after suffering a hip injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
When healthy, Richardson hasn’t looked very impressive this season. He has been extremely inaccurate, completing just 48.5 percent of his passes. Yet, the Colts need to stick with him and be patient as he figures things out.
Believe It or Not, Colts’ Anthony Richardson Could Become a Star
Benching Him Isn’t the Answer
One thing the Colts know how to do is find great backup quarterbacks. Gardner Minshew, who’s now with the Las Vegas Raiders, did a great job last year. Joe Flacco has been phenomenal this season when filling in for Anthony Richardson.
A lot of fans would like the Colts to bench Richardson and start Flacco for the rest of the season. Perhaps Flacco would give the team a much better shot at making the playoffs than Richardson would. However, that isn’t the route the Colts should go. While Flacco is undoubtedly one of the league’s best backup quarterbacks, the 39-year-old veteran is not the team’s long-term answer.
Indianapolis needs to continue to start Richardson. He needs to get as many reps as possible and learn the game.
Relax, Maybe Anthony Richardson Will Be a Late-Bloomer for the Colts
C.J. Stroud was selected two picks before Richardson. The former Ohio State Buckeye made an immediate impact during his first season. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Houston Texans to the playoffs.
Not every quarterback, though, is a star right off the bat like Stroud was. Sometimes it takes a few years. While Richardson hasn’t quite looked like a megastar thus far, he could emerge as one later on in his career. Peyton Manning wasn’t exactly an elite quarterback from the beginning. He led the league in interceptions as a rookie with 28. Yet, he eventually became one of the greatest players in NFL history.
Current Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen struggled early on in his career. He completed just 52.8 percent of his passes as a rookie. Nowadays, he might be the league’s best signal-caller not named Patrick Mahomes.
It’s doubtful that Richardson is the next Peyton Manning. And he may not ever be as good as Josh Allen. However, he can still become a great player someday. Anthony Richardson is only 22 years old and has started just nine NFL games. He’s super-athletic and has a cannon for an arm. If he can somehow stay healthy and improve his accuracy issues, the sky is the limit for this kid.
Main Image: Trevor Ruszkowski – USA Today Sports
