After an offseason of roster-building, the Indianapolis Colts are preparing for a new year. Before they open the season for Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13, Colts general manager Chris Ballard will have several difficult decisions to make.
Currently, the Colts have a roster of 90 players. On August 26, they will have to reduce that number from 90 to 53 players. In doing so, the Colts may be forced to release a recent first-round pick.
Recently, Bleacher Report's Mo Moton suggested that, instead of finding a trade partner, the Colts could release Anthony Richardson. This is what we saw them do with former Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore, who still hasn't found a new team.
"According to ESPN, Anthony Richardson Sr. and the Indianapolis Colts mutually agreed to explore a trade. Richardson has struggled with his passing efficiency (50.6 percent completion rate) and availability (15 starts in three years) during most of his three seasons, which is why teams may not offer much for him in trade offers. As was the case with cornerback Kenny Moore II, the Colts are looking to release Richardson outright. can do so if they have a weak or non-existent trading market.”
BR's Mo Moton on Anthony Richardson
Richardson would certainly prefer to be released rather than traded elsewhere. This will give the 23-year-old player a chance to choose his next team.
On the surface, it seems hard to believe that the Colts would have to release a player who was selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Still, with the Colts likely considering very small trade returns for a player who will be a free agent at the end of the season, it would not be unprecedented for them to decide it would be best to release Richardson.
For now, Richardson is set to return as the backup to Daniel Jones, who signed a two-year, $88 million extension this offseason. The Colts also have 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard and 2025 undrafted free agent Seth Hennigan.
With Jones recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, the Colts may like the additional insurance provided by Richardson, and there's always a chance he opts out in the preseason, leading to a trade offer from an interested team.
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