Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has had a disappointing career so far. But that doesn’t mean he can’t turn things around. Former NFL quarterback Rex Grossman believes Richardson will be “great” in a few years.
“I’ve been a fan of his since he first started playing at Florida, throwing bombs on the money, doing flip celebrations, running for 70-yard touchdowns,” said Grossman (via CardPlayer). “He has literally the best physical skill set in the NFL. When he gets a little older, he’s going to be great. Hopefully his shoulder’s fine, and he can start right away, and prove to everybody that he’s getting better. Then he can get those reps, and he can build the trust from the organization.”
Will Grossman’s prediction come true?
Former NFL Quarterback Rex Grossman Says Colts’ Anthony Richardson Is “Going to Be Great”
Not a Franchise Quarterback…Yet
Andrew Luck retired in 2019. Since then, the Colts have struggled to find a franchise quarterback. Richardson was supposed to be that guy. However, he hasn’t been the answer thus far.
The Colts selected Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he only played four games due to injury. He was supposed to bounce back last season. But unfortunately, his 2024 campaign was far from great. Richardson dealt with injuries once again and was benched temporarily in favor of Joe Flacco. Plus, there was the “tap out for being too tired” play against the Houston Texans in Week 8.
Richardson did have a few impressive moments, though. He had a game-winning touchdown run in Week 11 against the New York Jets. Then, in Week 13 versus the New England Patriots, he orchestrated a 19-play drive with a two-point conversion.
Will Anthony Richardson Be Great?
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Nov 24, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) leaves the field after losing to the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Will Anthony Richardson turn out to be a great player? Nobody can predict the future. But, yes, it could happen.
The potential is certainly there. Richardson has a cannon for an arm. Plus, he’s one of the most athletic quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen.
Due to his incredible athleticism, Richardson can be fun to watch at times. However, he needs to dramatically improve his accuracy. He completed only 47.7 percent of his passes last season. That’s just not going to cut it, and nobody will debate that.
Richardson recently had a shoulder injury scare. Yet, he’s expected to be ready for training camp. He’ll compete with Daniel Jones for the Colts’ starting quarterback job.
Richardson might win the job and have an injury-free breakout campaign. But if he has another disappointing year, 2024 will likely be his last season in Indianapolis.
If Anthony Richardson winds up playing somewhere else, Grossman believes he could be a gem for another team:
“He’s got all the tools. If I were the Colts, I’d figure out a way to keep him and let him, at some point, get those reps. If they move on, someone’s going to find a gem. Maybe an unpolished gem that could turn out to be a great player. I’m rooting for him, but you’ve got to get reps out there to get better.”
It will be interesting to see how Richardson‘s career plays out. He could end up becoming a star or he could also be a bust. We shall see.