Imagine, if you will:
It was a quiet night in Eagan, especially at TCO Performance Center. The Minnesota Vikings’ brain trust was inside formulating their offseason plan when a truck broke through the gates and started speeding toward the entrance.
After whipping a few donuts, the man, adorned in a tank top and gym shorts, tossed what appeared to be another human being onto the steps.
“This guy sucks, bro!” the driver screamed to his friends in the backseat. “Let’s get out of here, bro!”
The man lying on the front stoop was Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. Weighed down by his three years in the NFL, he looked despondent, only able to tap the top of his head. Kevin O’Connell sprinted out of the headquarters with a distressed look on his face before consoling Richardson.
“Get him a playbook! NOW!!!” O’Connell screamed. “It’s not your fault. You hear me? It’s not your fault!”
After a year when Kevin O’Connell’s Rehab Clinic For Struggling Quarterbacks took a massive hit, another project may have gotten dumped on his doorstep when ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported that the Colts have permitted Richardson to seek a trade, “given his uncertain future with the team.”
Anthony Richardson may not be the answer to Minnesota’s quarterback woes. But he could be a high-reward signal caller in an offseason where O’Connell is looking to minimize risk.
The case for Richardson hinges on the struggles of current starter J.J. McCarthy. At this time a year ago, Vikings fans were eating up every quote from golf tournaments and YouTube videos, believing that McCarthy was their franchise quarterback. As a result of Minnesota’s faith in him, they moved on from Sam Darnold and didn’t bring in Aaron Rodgers, and surged through an up-and-down offseason.
As it turned out, McCarthy’s first year as a starter featured a lot more lows than highs. Although the Vikings finished 9-8, McCarthy’s injuries and erratic play have forced O’Connell to pledge for a “competitive” quarterback room next season. As a result, many have focused on who could be the starter when the 2026 season begins.
But O’Connell’s statement about a competitive environment may not have only been about the starting spot. There’s also a chance he could be looking for competition on the back end to push McCarthy.
Vikings fans know about O’Connell’s admiration for Richardson, reinforced by NFL analyst Brett Kollman’s statement that he was ready to “sell the farm” to trade up for him in the 2025 draft. In an NFL Films video, O’Connell called Richardson “a bad dude” and said he would “play in this league for a long time.”
.@Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell had some words of encouragement for @GVOaant ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TaXW9dFaMx
— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2024
Daniel Jones left the Vikings to sign with the Colts last offseason and beat out Richardson for the job. Ironically, that could bring Richardson and KOC together, with NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reporting that both sides have “mutual interest” as the quarterback starts searching for a trade.
Of course, that would alter Minnesota’s quarterback room. A trade for Anthony Richardson wouldn’t stop the Vikings from seeking a veteran quarterback this offseason. But it would ensure that McCarthy doesn’t feel complacent about his starting job. While the team may be high on Max Brosmer, Richardson is a more worthy challenger to ensure McCarthy feels the heat, even if he is in the No. 2 role.
That didn’t happen at any point last year when the Vikings traded for Sam Howell, signed Carson Wentz when that move failed, and were then forced to start Brosmer earlier than anyone expected due to injuries. It also could give O’Connell a fallback plan in case McCarthy isn’t the guy, or if his health woes continue. Richardson could take the mantle of the QB of the future — he turns 24 later this year.
At this point, it’s a move for a team that needs to play it safe but would benefit from some level of upside in their quarterback situation. If McCarthy rises to the challenge, he could reset himself in 2026 before returning to the starting role in 2027. If he doesn’t, Richardson could take his roster spot and perhaps follow in the steps of Malik Willis, who’s projected to earn over $30 million per season as he hits free agency next spring.
That could also allow the Vikings to continue to stabilize the position at the front end. If Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins, or Aaron Rodgers is the starter, it could be enough to push Minnesota into the playoffs after narrowly missing it one year ago. That would fulfill the first part of O’Connell’s objective to win a playoff game in 2026 and allow him to plug whomever he wants into the starting lineup next season, whether it’s Richardson, McCarthy, or another disgruntled quarterback like Joe Burrow.
With Vikings fans sighing heavily over Derek Carr or a return by Kirk Cousins, the Anthony Richardson availability could lead O’Connell to make a move that has seemingly been years in the making.