Open Quarterback Competition Coming For Anthony Richardson
INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts say an open competition will greet Anthony Richardson in his third NFL season.
Of course, how “real” that competition turns out to be remains a definite question.
“It’ll be open,” is how Ballard described a pending quarterback competition for the 2025 offseason.
That will certainly be music to the ears of perspective quarterbacks looking for a new home, and a chance to compete for a job.
At the same time, Ballard also knows for the quarterback move this offseason to offer some real competitive spirit this offseason, it can’t be just another guy in the endless cycle of 2nd and 3rd stringers annually moving around the league.
“It’s got be somebody who can really challenge from a production standpoint,” Ballard said at this week’s NFL Combine.
So, who moves that needle?
Certainly, a Matthew Stafford would. As it would also be very costly. Are the Vikings really moving on from Sam Darnold, who tops the free agent class?
After Stafford, who remains under contract with the Rams, a viable quarterback list that brings a notable resume to Indy is hard to find.
Aaron Rodgers, 41, looks too old, among other things.
Outside of a Justin Fields (will the Steelers want to re-sign him?) or possibly a reclamation project of Daniel Jones, it’s hard to find a name that doesn’t sound like some version of Jacoby Brissett, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan, Gardner Minshew, Joe Flacco, etc.
Free agents in the world of Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Taylor Heinicke, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Jameis Winston, Mac Jones, Jimmy Garoppolo and Wentz would make Colts fans groan more than anything.
Any draft pick would have the clear inexperience hurdle.
Richardson losing his job in an offseason where he’s wearing just a red jersey would probably mean it’s fine to write the final chapter on his Colts career.
Would that really happen after a 2024 training camp in which he performed just fine (completed 65 percent of his passes) but then went on to have a poor season.
Again, defining real competition, at the quarterback position, and acquiring that, is hard.
While a Colts quarterback move is on the horizon, so much of the focus remains with Richardson.
Shane Steichen checks in weekly with Richardson, while also keeping close tabs with the personal training staff of the Colts young quarterback taking place in Florida. The team is allowed to ramp up their contact with Richardson once they reconvene on April 21st for the team’s offseason program.
Currently though, it’s about a healthy offseason (unlike last year) hopefully leading to improved fundamentals.
“I think he’s a natural thrower,” Ballard says. “I think the more passes the throws with his feet, making sure he gets his feet right, making sure he can layer throws, all of that needs work. He knows that. When he does it right, it’s a beautiful thing. Now it’s about doing it down after down.”
Steichen points to Richardson’s feet moving too quickly at times as more of a specific focus.
“I think the biggest thing going into Year 3, taking that next step, being that leader as a quarterback and getting the completion up and taking those easy completions,” Richardson’s play caller says.
When Richardson gets back to the Colts Complex, he will continue to have the same offensive staff voices around him.
In Houston, the Texans decided C.J. Stroud needed a new player caller, and offensive coordinator, after firing OC-Bobby Slowik.
Conversely, the Colts wanted to maintain voice continuity around Richardson, keeping the same offensive staff again, with Steichen maintaining those play-calling duties.
What will be different for Richardson though is a new face (or two?) in the quarterback room.
And he knows that.
“Anthony has accepted all of it, he understands there needs to be some growth,” Ballard says. “There’s no deferring or defensiveness. I think understanding the enormity of who the quarterback is and what the value is, I don’t want to say naïve when he first walked into the league but there’s a little bit of that.
“I think you saw spurts of (good football). He’s really competitive. I think for a 6-game stretch (in 2024), you saw some really special stuff out of him. Now we just have to get consistent. He’s a really good dude. He cares and he needs to put the work in.”
